Page 1 : 3.5. The Red-headed League, , , , Be a writer!, , We come to know about many types of crime through the mass media. We, hear/read about theft, burglary, robbery, murder, kidnapping, blackmailing — the, list can be very long. It is important to detect crime, find the criminal and, prove that he/she is guilty so that justice is done. People of all ages like to, read about stories of crime and detection— how a daring, intelligent policeman, or detective catches a criminal. Have you read such storics or seen such, programmes on TV? Would you like to write such a story?, , e Think of interesting titles for mystery storics such as : ‘The Case of, ceseeeeuee ’. The Mystery of ..........°, ‘The Adventure of ..........’., , e Form groups and try to write an outline, of a detective story in English as a, group activity. Discuss and note down, the characters, the events, and how your, hero/heroine who is detective solved the, , , , mystery., , Divide the class into two groups. Each group, writes the description of a crime. Exchange, your descriptions. Then prepare a set of, ‘probing’ questions to make inquiries about, (investigate) the crime. Demonstrate the, , , , questions and answers in the classroom., , 77, , , , THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE

Page 2 : THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE, , ®, , &, , ®, , 78, , Like other Sherlock, Holmes stories, this, story, too, is told by his, friend, Dr Watson., , league : an association, or a formal group of, people, , elderly : old, past his, middle age, , fiery : like fire, bright, red, , pawn - broker : a person, who lends money at, interest when valuable, things are kept with him, till the loan is repaid., , Red-headed : a person, with red hair., , nominal : easy, simple, , Things to do :, , Find samples of, ‘classified ads’ from, an English newspaper., Where will this, advertisement (the one, , given here) be seen in, the classified ?, , Find out what you have, to do when you are told, to ‘apply in person’., , Find out how, photographs were, developed in those, days., , Part I: Mr Wilson’s Story, , W hen I called upon my friend, Mr Sherlock, Holmes, he was conversing with a visitor, who was, an elderly man with fiery red hair., , Holmes introduced me to the visitor, Mr Jabez, Wilson. He was a pawn-broker. Holmes asked him, to repeat his story for me. He began by showing us, an advertisement in a newspaper. It read as follows—, , TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE, There is a vacancy for a member of the League, and the salary is four, pounds a week for nominal services. Red-headed men may apply in, person on Monday, at eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the office of, the League, 7 Fleet Street., , The advertisement had appeared in newspaper, two months ago. Mr Wilson’s assistant, Vincent, Spaulding, had shown it to him. Mr Wilson liked, his assistant Spaulding. He was smart, efficient and, worked for only half the normal wages! But, the, assistant also had his faults. Every now and then, he, left work and went down into the cellar to develop, photographs. Photography was his hobby.

Page 3 : Spaulding showed the advertisement to, Mr Wilson and explained to him that an American, millionaire, Mr Ezekiah Hopkins, had founded the, famous Red-headed League, to help all red-heads, like himself. Spaulding urged Mr Wilson to apply for, the job. So, the two of them went to the address given, in the advertisement., , Fleet Street was full of red-headed people. Mr, Wilson thought that with so much competition he, would not get the job. He wanted to go back, but, Spaulding pushed through the crowd and took, Mr Wilson to the office., , There was nothing in the office but a couple of, chairs and a table. A red-headed man sat behind the, table. He was Mr Duncan Ross, a representative of, Red-headed League. He was very pleased to see, Mr Wilson, and announced immediately that he, was well suited for the job. He shook hands with, Mr Wilson, congratulated him, and told all other, candidates to go back., , Mr Duncan Ross explained that Mr Wilson, would have to be in the office from ten to two. If, he left the office, he would lose the job. Spaulding, assured Mr Wilson that he would look after, Mr Wilson’s business in his absence. The pay was, fixed at four pounds a week., , “And the work?” said Mr Wilson., , “You have to copy out the Encyclopedia, Britannica.”, , The pay was very good, and the work, was light. Mr Wilson accepted the job, and began his work the very next day., Mr Duncan Ross was there in the office to see that, Mr Wilson did his work properly and did not leave, the office. He told Mr Wilson to start with the letter, ‘A’. Mr Wilson wrote diligently for four hours, without leaving his place. Mr Ross would drop, in from time to time to see that all was right with, Mr Wilson. At two o’clock, he bade Mr Wilson goodday, and locked the door of the office., , e founded : started, e red-head : a red-headed, person, , Listen and answer :, , © Why was Fleet Street, full of red-headed, , people?, , © Who was well suited, for the job?, , © Why did Mr Wilson, accept the job?, , © Would you like to do, such a job? Why?

Page 4 : OQ0O0OC eR :: © 44 80% & 1:48, , < 703020035.pdf lq &, , Spaulding showed the advertisement to, Mr Wilson and explained to him that an American, millionaire, Mr Ezekiah Hopkins, had founded the e founded : started, famous Red-headed League, to help all red-heads e red-head : a red-headed, like himself. Spaulding urged Mr Wilson to apply for person, the job. So, the two of them went to the address given, in the advertisement., , Fleet Street was full of red-headed people. Mr, Wilson thought that with so much competition he, would not get the job. He wanted to go back, but, Spaulding pushed through the crowd and took, Mr Wilson to the office., , There was nothing in the office but a couple of, chairs and a table. A red-headed man sat behind the, table. He was Mr Duncan Ross, a representative of, Red-headed League. He was very pleased to see, Mr Wilson, and announced immediately that he, was well suited for the job. He shook hands with, Mr Wilson, congratulated him, and told all other, candidates to go back., , Mr Duncan Ross explained that Mr Wilson, would have to be in the office from ten to two. If, he left the office, he would lose the job. Spaulding, assured Mr Wilson that he would look after, Mr Wilson’s business in his absence. The pay was, fixed at four pounds a week., , “And the work?” said Mr Wilson., , “You have to copy out the Encyclopedia, Britannica.”, , The pay was very good, and the work Listen and answer :, was light. Mr Wilson accepted the job . Why was Fleet Street, and began his work the very next day. full of red-headed, Mr Duncan Ross was there in the office to see that people?, , Mr Wilson did his work properly and did not leave Who wor well euited, , the office. He told Mr Wilson to start with the letter for the job?, ‘A’. Mr Wilson wrote diligently for four hours, without leaving his place. Mr Ross would drop, in from time to time to see that all was right with, Mr Wilson. At two o’clock, he bade Mr Wilson good- ~ Would you like to do, day, and locked the door of the office., , © Why did Mr Wilson, accept the job?, , such a job? Why?

Page 5 : Things to do:, , What is the difference, between a dictionary, and an encyclopedia?, Find out., , Suggest a few words, that may appear under, ‘A’ after Archery in an, encyclopedia., , “This went on day after day, Mr Holmes,” said, Mr Wilson, “and on Saturday I got my salary. It was, the same next week, and the same the week after., After a few days, Mr Duncan Ross came in only once, in a while and after a time, he did not come in at all”., , Mr Wilson continued “Eight weeks had passed, like this, and I had written about Abbots, Archery, etc. and hoped that I might get on to ‘B’ soon. And, then suddenly the whole business came to an end.”, , “To an end?” Holmes asked., , “Yes, sir. This morning, | went to my work as, usual at ten o’clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a little note nailed on it. It said —, , The Red-headed League is dissolved., Oct 9, 1880., I was shocked. I did not know what to do”., , Mr Wilson went on with his story, “I made, enquiries at the nearby offices, but none of them, knew anything about the League. The rooms had, been rented under a false name., , “T went home and asked my assistant Spaulding, for advice. But he could not help me in any way. I, want to find out about the League, Mr Holmes, who, they are and why they played this prank upon me., The whole thing is a mystery. That is why I came to, you. I have heard a lot about you”., , Holmes found Mr Wilson’s story very unusual., He asked, “Mr Wilson, this assistant of yours who, first called your attention to the advertisement — what, is he like?”, , “Small, stout, with no hair on his face. He has a, white splash of acid on his forehead.”, , “T thought as much,” said Mr Holmes. “Is he still, with you?”, “Oh, yes, sir.”, , “That will do, Mr Wilson. I can give you my, opinion on this subject in a day or two. Today, is Saturday, and by Monday we may come to a, conclusion.”