Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-05-05

l stumbled up two or three badly
worn steps into room about fifteen
feet square lighted only by the oc-
casional glare of cigarette. 1t was
so dark that I came full up against
the wooden counter as inquired of
the individual, who | felt must be be-
hind the cigarette, if Don Mariana was
ut home.
l told him / had draft against
him for $4,000. This at least required
light-the dark object rose and
lighted small candle. / handed him
the draft, which he bent over, resting
his elbows on the counter to scruti-
nize. He was man not more than
so years Of age, but he appeared to
be past his hundreth year, His spare
form, covered with black, thread
bare coat, out of the top of which
came high collar which had never
seen laundress, his white hair con-
trasting strongly with the dark leath-
er skin of his face. As his palsied
hands clutched the draft | examined
the store. There were shelves from
floor to ceiling filed with pottery,
highly colored Indian calicos, native
brown sugar, and, in fact, every article
useful to the native of Honduras, from
a 'machete, or large knife, to saddle
or bottle of whisky. Surely, | thought
as / watched the old man, have come
to the wrong house for that amount
of money, but at length he grunted,
''bueno," and passed me pen to sign
a receipt. He was very careful to spell
out the signature, and to peer into
my face with most villainous pair
of little black eyes. He put away the
receipt, and, STOPPING down, took from
some receptacle ON the floor and plac-
ed before me on the counter fifty
packages each containing 100 silver
dollars, good load for pack mule.
looked at the pile of money and
then at him. "Pesa mucho" Git is
heavy said he. / told him l would
call again in the morning with
wagon. Again he grunted, "brueno,"
replaced the money, wishing me good
evening and extinguishing the candle
as / passed out.
Don Mariana is one of the richest
men of Central America. His money
has been boarded for years, loaned on
good security at 3 per cent. per month,
SO per cent year. He has "eornered"
corn, the principal food of the poor,
very often, and in each operation
heaven seems to have aided him by
failure of crops. Several times in his
life he has been shit very" hard A GER
tain president of his country was in
need of 100000 and applied to Don
Mariana. Don Mariana knew very well
he would never see a dollar of it again,
and pleaded extreme poverty. The
president made the application q
second time. Don Mariana again re-
fused the loan, but he was summoned
to the palace, sent to the penitentiary,
and with one side of his head and face
shaved, was made to work in the
streets as member of the chain gang,
much TO the joy of his many debtors.
He bore up bravely under this treat
ment for nearly two months, when he
turned over to the president the sum
required. This little experience proved
of great value on subsequent oc
casion.
On the death of certain president
each one of his cabinet ministers was
anxious to succeed-but any successor
had to have the army on his side. The
vice-presldent went to Don Mariana
tor SIS, 1000. 1t was delivered in ter
minutes, the army was paid-t the vice
president succeeded, and the former
cabinet was banished. 1t Is next t.
impossible to form any exact idea Of
this mans wealth-he is afraid Of
banks and never intrusts them with Q
cent. We know he owns two or thret
coffee estates, much real estate, but
no one knows but himself, how much
money he can show at moments
notice.-NeW York Times.
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