The Motor Scout

hanged his black coat for a loose jacket of white alpaca. An awning and his broad-brimmed Panama hat gave shelter from the sun. At his

gar, he let out a smothered ejaculation, struggled to his feet, and hastened into the house. The cause of these abrupt movements was th

refect in awe, as was only natural, seeing that it was the Prefect who had appointed him to his office, at the cost of a very considerable fee. In his haste and perturbation he forgot that

nador. "I was taking a brief siesta, and did not exp

d before his superior, and politely

which bushy eyebrows met, and a heavy moustache twisted into long points, accepted the

ct, "that you were seen yesterday in a very undignified position, unwo

r experienced that novel mode of locomotion, and I as

ng your responsible office into contempt.

h sovereigns with which he had bought his office, and the terrible eclipse of all his importance

ntrusted me, when I was seized by four villainous brigands in the hills. They bound me to a tree, and but for the courageous intervention of the young Inglés, who mounted me on his machine and brought me home, I should proba

cannot be rescinded. Still, as a special act of grace, in con

e?or," said the grateful gobern

gn against the brigands. Your zeal is such that you will not refuse to make a small contribution on behalf o

his contribution would go to support the cause, and how much into the Prefect's own pocket, he co

To their surprise he struck into the rough track northward, which led only to the hacienda of Mr. O'Hagan, to another

a

clamation of annoyance, and went to greet him. He was forestalled by Pardo, who had run from the office and was holding the horseman's stirrup. Mr. O'Hagan felt that he could do no other than in

r his spirited action yesterday in the cause of law and order. There, my boy," he went on, taking

ed at hi

lowing his irritation, "your generosity is

ing the coin. "He will allow me to shake him by the

it was not so bad as the

d your family, se?or," the Prefect con

n quickly. "My son had no political motive in

narchy. Brigandage is chaos. I am determined to stamp it out. My action is in the true interests of all law-abid

is chair. Mr. O'Hagan guessed what was coming. A few years before this, the Prefect, by bribery and intrigue, had ousted his predecessor in office, one Se?or Mollendo, and had since maintained his position by corruption, and by levying forced loans on such

were what we should call a political party in opposition: in Peru the government termed them brigands. It was natural enough that they should include among their number many lawless irreconcilables of the true brigand type; and opposition which wou

aw. That being the case, and my treasury being in temporary need of funds, I have every confidence in inviting you to subscribe a s

ed to the protection of government. My people are contented; I have had no trouble with them; the people you call brigands have not moles

brigands are at large; and I should be very much distressed if you were to suffer loss through the unfortunate pe

. O'Hagan bluntly. "I must beg y

ct smiled

Inglésas!

man, se?or: t

f prosperity. I only regret that by your reluctance to support me you are helping to let loose the forces of lawlessness and giving

e foible of Peruvians. But after he had seen the last of his visitor, he returned to

fle of ￡1000. This country is a hot-bed of corruption. A

O'Hagan placably, "what

that I'm on the side of the Mollendists.

to wait until Tim was a little older before giving him the moto

be so bad as you think.... And T