The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-08-19
CHAPTER il
bal the cup.

-~-[~~~
In the Cup.
Dmia found the humble home Of his
tmscuntaineer host home In the fullest
sanses OF the word.
AZ the MONDAY meal, he met Mrs.
Azorelnnd and the sons of the house
bold, and they were exactly as he had
pictured them. Mrs. Moreland was
quiet, motherIy, always smiling, as
straight and real as her husband. The
sons, Caleb and Luke. were as much
alike as the fingers on your hands;
they were tall and broad-shouidered,
Rrey-eyed and brown-haired.
Before shutdown Dale had become
acquainted with the rest OF the More
lands. and he liked them. every one.
Lie was at the cabin Of his hosts gray
lsld father and mother for long time.
When supper was over John More.
iand lighted the big glass lamp In the
best room, and the family and their
guest gathered there to spend the eve
ming. Then the ianky moonshiner and
his mother came In,
Granny Heck had the sharp features
and the stopped, thin figure of witch.
She wore faded blue bandana about
her white head, and she carried long
hickory stan; there was reed.
stemmed clay pipe in her mouth, and
her dark calico skirt had a tobacco
pocket In 1t.
Her son preceded her Into the room.
He walked to the center table, faced
fahaut and eaid xulth n los, ava a.,
Sweep Of his right hand;
! 'Blll, old boy, this here's nav. Nav,
she tells forchunes.n
$50 this here" creaked Granny
Heck, looking over the brass rims Of
her spectacles, rs Mr.. BiIli Well,
well ! jest thought to myself at I'd
Zone up and see ye, Mr., Bin, and tell
Iyore forchune."
She dropped into the rocker that
Caleb had placed for her.
"Addle," she said to the smiling Mrs.
Moreland, "wlll We bring me a cup half
full o. coffee grounds7"
When the cup came, the fortune
teller took Il and shook II and patted
it, all the while muttering mysterious
words that she had learned from the
lold Indian, Cherokee Joe which
served her purpose very wen.
Il see" she mumbled more or less
sepulchrally, "a pow'fui good.lookin
gyurl In a callker dress, with her halr
a.hangin' away down her back. A bare,
footed gyurl, with big, purity eyes
She's a.standin' on a low cliff. a-peep.
In at you through the laurels, Mr.
BIN. This IS In the past ,..
SIN the future" she went on slowly
II see this here as plain as daylight
Through knothole; a awful big man
with curly black hair and curly blacl
beard, aud with eyes like cliff
hawks; and see you, too, Mr.. Bill
and see a fight, q master flght--Lo orr
Ia mussy, what light But your
marry the gyurl after all. Mr., Biu."
Dale laughed. The old woman ha,
described Babe Littleford. But VIII,
was the big, dark mannf Some Eel
low who had lost his heart to tn
mountain girl, perhaps.
When the Hecks had gone, Johl
Moreiand leaned forward and touches
mis- guest on the knee.
That thar big man mentioned Il
teilin' ysre forchune," he said. ''mIgh
ma been Black Adam Ball. Black Adam
he lives with his pap and mother
hew mile up the river. AS big a
skinned boss, he is, and plumb on
igodfy strong. He's been a-beggin' Bah
Iittieford to marry him To- a year O
two, and she won't listen 20 han.
"Ef ever ye do hat TO fight Blac
Adam" John Moreland went on, ~
wasn't 10 hght him with two-eye
ashosgun and buckshot He's the near
est suan on earth; snake-broth an
pinsn vine is religious aside o. hin
Bue ontel ye begin a-makin' love /
Babe Littieford. reckon the amt n
danger o you a.hayin' trouble wit
BLACK Adam; and you Amt likely,
take IL, TO make love 10 Babe"
'sBst Babes the best one o. the II
alsforis.T declared Luke.
John Moreland reached for n
aeafherbound old family Bible. II
opened the Book al random.
sIts about time we was a-goln'
cir rest, and wen 90 Jest as soon 1
ws'ye had prayers. Mr. Daleb
when half chapter from ST. Ma
tsew had been iaborlously but reye
sicily read. the MoreIands knelt
d. - clafts end 40 did 1911 DaLa Jak