The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-09

change color. here's a nice little crib all
ready for me to step into
Why, what is it, then p asked. You
see, Mr.. Holmes, / am avery stay-at-home
man, and, as my business comes to me in
stead OF my having to go to it, was often
weeks on end without putting my foot
over the door-mat. In that way / didn't
know much Of what was going on outside,
and was always glad of bit of news.
Have you never heard of the League
OF Red-Headed Menu he asked with his
eyes open. Why, / wonder at that for
you are eligible yourself for one of the va
cancies.'
And what are they worth = asked.
oh, merely couple of hundred a
year, but the work is slight and it need
not interfere very much with ones other
occupations.
"Well, you can easily think that that
made me prick up my ears, Tell me all
about it, said I.
We'll, said he, showing me the adyer-
tisement, you can see for yourself that
the league has a vacancy, and there is the
address where you should apply for par
ticulars. As far as | can make out, the
league was founded by an American mill
ionalre, Ezekiah Hopkins, who was very
peculiar in his ways, He was himself
red-headed, and he had great sympathy
for all red-headed men; so, when he died,
1t was found that he had left his enormous
fortune in the hands of trustees. with
instructions TO apply the interest to the
providing of easy berths to men whose
hair is of that color. From all hear il is
splendid pay, and very little to do.
:" But said /, there would be millions
OF red-headed men who would apply
Not so many as you might think
he answered. You see it is really con-
fined to Londoners, and to grown men.
Ihis American had started from London
when he was young, and he wanted to do
the old town a good turn. Then, again,
L have heard it is no use your applying if
your hair is light red or dark red, or any
thing but real, bright, blazing, fiery red.
Now, 1t is a fact, gentlemen, as you
may see for yourselves, that my hair Is of
very full and rich tint, so that it seemed
TO me that, il there was to be any competi-
ton in the matter, | stood as good
chance as any man that l had ever met.
Vincent Spaulding seemed to know SO
much about it that | thought he might
prove useful, so | Just ordered him to put
up the shutters for the day, and to come
night away with ME. He was very willing
to have a holiday. so we shut the business
up and started off for the address that was
given us in the advertisement.
Il never hope to see such a sight as that
again, Mr.. Holmes. From north, south,
east and west, every man who had a shade
OF red in his hair had tramped into the
city to answer the advertisement. Fleet
street was choked with red-headed folks,
and Pope's court looked like coster's
orange barrow. When | saw how many
were waiting, | would have given up in
despair; but Spaulding would not hear of
1t. How he did it / could not imagine,
but he pushed and pulled and butted until
he got me through the crowd, and right up
to the steps which led to the Office. There
was double stream upon the stair, some
detected; but we wedged in as well as we
could, and soon found ourselves in the
office"
Your experience has been a most enter
tanning one" remarked Holmes, as his
client paused and refreshed his memory
with huge pinch of snuff. "Pray con-
tinue your very interesting statement
'"rhere was nothing in the Office but a
couple of wooden chairs and deal table,
behind which sat a small man, with q
head that was even redder than mine. He
said few words to each candidate as he
came up, and then he always managed to
find some fault in them which would dis
qualify them. Getting a vacancy did not
seem to be such an easy matter after ALL
However, when our turn came, the little
man was much more favorable to me than
to any of the others, and closed the doors
when we entered SO that he might have
private word with US.
"'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson, said my
assistant, and he is willing to fill a va
cancy in the league
land he is admirably suited for it. the
other answered. He has every require
ment. / cannot recall when / have seen
anything SO fine He took step back
ward, cooked his head on one side, and
gazed at my hair until felt quite bashful
Then suddenly he plunged forward,
wrung my hand, and Congratulated me
warmly on my success.
1T would be injustice to hesitate, said
he. You will, however, | am sure, excuse
me for taking an obvious precaution.'
With that he seized my hair in both his
hands, and tugged until l yelled with the
pain. There Is water in your eyes. said
he, as he rele ased me. Il perceive that all
is as it should be. But We have to be
careful, for we nave twice been deceived
by wigs and once by paint. l could tell
you tales of cobbler's wax which would
disgust you with human nature He
stepped over TO the window and shouted
through it at the top of his voice that the
vacancy was filed. A groan of disap-
pointment came up from below, and the
folk all trooped away in different direc-
tons, until there was not red head to be
seen except my own and that of the man
ager.
my name,' said he, is Mr. Duncan
Ross, and | am myself one of the pen
sioners upon the fund left by our noble
benefactor. When shall you be able to
enter upon your new duties?'
well, il is a little awkward, for have
business already said [.
"'Oh, never mind about that, Mr.. Will
son, said Vincent Spaulding. Il shall be
able to look after that for YOU
"'What would be the hours p l asked.
Ten to two
Now pawnbroker's business is mostly
done of an evening. Mr.. Holmes, especially
Thursday and Friday evening, which is
Just before pay day; so it would suit me
very well to earn a little in the mornings
Besides, knew that my assistant was a
good man, and that he would see to any,
thing that turned up.
That would suit me very we'll, said /.
And the pay?'
is Ga week
land the work?'
Well You have to be in the office. or
at least in the building, the whole time.
II You leave you forfeit your whole posi-
ton forever. The will is verv clear upon
that point You don't comply with the
conditions if you bulge from the Office
during that time
ITS only four hours a dav, and |
should not think of leaving, said l.
" No excuse will avail said Mr. Dun
can Ross, neither sickness. nor business.
nor anything else. There you must stay'
oryou lose your billet
AND the work p
lis to copy out the 'Encycopadia
Brltannlca." There is the first volume of
IT in that press. You must find your own
ink, pens and blotting paper, but We pro-
vide this table and chair. VIII you be
ready tomorrow