CHAPTER VI
Artie’s “Failure” as a Detective
Smithers did not allow his acquaintance with Guy Burton to wax cold during the latter’s stay in London. He was diligent in his efforts to make himself agreeable to the young American. Guy learned from incidental sources that the man was proprietor of a jewelry store in Bond street and was credited with doing a large business. Bond street is the center of the retail jewelry trade in London and has many fine stores.
This jeweler owned a motor car and passed much of his leisure time wearing out tires and pavements. On the Saturday afternoon following the adventure with the highwayman in the fog, he asked Guy to take a spin with him, and the invitation was accepted. They got an early start and bowled over the boulevards to the southwest, passing through Batterson Park and Wimbledon Park east to Bromley, and back to Trafalgar Square by way of Greenwich. The car was a low, torpedo-shaped machine, which skimmed along the ground as if racing to the destruction of a foreign fleet. The owner took much delight in the “dangerous” appearance of his “Shark,” as he named the car.
“This is my hobby,” he remarked as they spun along at a rate that caused Guy to fear they would be arrested for speeding. “Every Englishman has a hobby, you know.”
“I thought most Englishmen’s hobby was riding horses,” replied Guy. “I was a little surprised to find the automobiles crowding the horses off the earth here just the same as in the United States.”
“Sure they are. Before long there won’t be any horses in London at all.”
“Will Englishmen hunt foxes in automobiles?” asked Guy with seeming innocence.
“Hardly,” laughed Smithers. “There’ll always be horses for the sportsmen. But as a useful animal, the horse has seen his best days here. By the way, have you got a hobby? I suppose if you have, it’s a wild one, since you live in an Indian country,” he added with a twinkle.
“Not so very,” assured Guy. “But I’ve a sort of a hobby that’s full of thrills.”
“I thought so. What is it?”