The Forrest City times., 1891-03-13
WITH A PANTHER.

Is replete Wltn strange, anu UT adventures. From the time of the arrival of Rufus Putnam's intrepid little colony to the close of the second wac with Great Britain, the "Buck- eye State" was the locale of startling events, some of which, if not properly authenticated, would read like the widest chapters of fiction.
 Some of the earliest settlers found their way through the unbroken for ests to the banks of the Muskingum and there reared their cabins. These men were, for the emost part, the heads of increasing families, some of the members of which were mere children, but these were as courageous III thelr way as their parents. The boys learn cd to bandle the rifle as soon as they were large enough to carry 1t, and from that hour were looked upon to furnish the larder with daily supplies of game, which was not q very difficult task. for the forests were literally alive with deer, turkeys, pheasants and the like.
 In addition to such game there were bears aad partners and some of the most sapguinary encounters recorded in the settlement of the west occurred between the settlers of the Muskingum country and these animals Among the people who came into tue region I have mentioned, was An drew Blossom q bard pioneer in the prime of life. He built his cabin with the aid of his wife and son, the latter q robust youth of II, very fond oi rowing in the woods with rifle, and q good shot.
 Tom Blossom was good natured, nearly always whistling, except when creeping after some wary game like d flock of turkeys. and 1t was not often that he came home with nothing Tn his game bag. He soon came to know the Muskingum forest like n book well read. It's trails were like turnpkes to him, and all knew that he stood in no danger of losing his way.
 In building the cabin, Tom had stip- ulated that he should have the "loft :" to himself and was permitted to fit 1t up as he saw fit. It was not long be- fore he had adorned 1t with trophies of the hunt, such IS antlers, coon skins, turkey feathers and the like. The only window ill the attic looked toward the west and across one end of he clearing. It was about fifteen feet from the ground, and Tom had raised long laddet--a felled sapling with sticks nailed across-whieh reached from the window to terra hrma. He had done this for the pur- pose oi getting to the ground without going down the ladder on the inside of the cabin and disturbing his parents, for on moonlight nights game was to eust omcd to following it across the clearing in hopes of a night prize,
 In the summer time the window was not protected at all, but during the winter piece of creased paper served to keep out the cold as well as let in the li.lk. Il very primative window, but it was all the settlers had those days.
 II saw the big tracks down in the gully again today" said Tom Blos- som to his father, as the latter came back from neighbours log raising some ten miles from home. "They 're uncommon bigfora painter, but that s just what made 'em.
 Did you lose theme" asked the set- tier, who knew that his boy was as good a trailer as there was in the country
 "I follered 'cm two miles over the toughest ground along the Muskingum, m they went into a lot of timber where lost 'em an had to trudgc home without shot,"
 Toms accent showed how bitter his disappointment had been, but when his father said that maybe the paint err would come back and give him a chance later on, he took hope and aft CT while clambcrcd up the ladder and went to bed.
 If I'd only got one shot" sighed Tom, looking toward the gully from his window. ''In all my life never saw such tracks for painter He must be bigger than Josh Rueglcs dor. l couldn't begin to cover the print 8 with my hand. He may come back and somebody may get head on
 i'm, and then I'd lose i'm altogether. My luck will be to lose the snimile, for he evidently found nothing in the gull ly an went home disapp inted." Theyouns moon, just three days old, was climbing the treetops beyond tho window when Tom heard a whistle at tho edge of the clearing and with cry of .'Dick Chambers, I'll be hound.'' he took up the rifle and made his way down the out side ladder
 Sure enough, Dick Chambers, q boy of his own age, and the nearest neigh bor was waiting for him. Dick had seen theIarge footprints in the gully. and had come to acquaint Tom with
 his discovery.
 "fhey look uncommon freshnear the smooth rock" said Dick
 What, near the smooth rock?" echoed Tom ''rhere war no tracks
 there this morning. "Let's go an see.h
 The boy Nimroda salliel forth, crossing the clearing. and soon reach cd the spot where Dick pointed at the ground in triumph Tom not down on h;s t,,s,sq n pl iupt,s.ft frt :, ,,.nn,n..t