Red-headed shop-keeper Jabez Wilson comes to Holmes with a puzzle. Goaded on by his young assistant Spaulding, he answered an advert for men with his hair colouring to join the Red-Headed League. It merely consisted of his sitting alone in a room, copying out words for several weeks. One day he found a notice on the door to state that the league had disbanded. What could it mean? Realizing that Wilson's premises are next to a bank and young Spaulding has been digging Holmes is in a position to set a trap to find out.