The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-04-08

selves. I've had a good supper and
when / get through playing will go
to my nice nest away up in a big tree
and sleep in peace. OF course l have
some trouble keeping out of the way
or the big, mean creatures who want
to eat me, but that don't bother me
much, because know their ways and
| have few little tricks of my own
can play on them when it becomes
necessary.
Surely you are not afraid Of me,
are your" said the panther. Especial
~ after, I've told you l won't hurt
YOU
My folks may be a little peculiar"
answered the racoon, but we pay
great deal more attention to the repu-
tation of those we associate with than
We do to what they say. That's why
we live to such good old age and en-
Joy life Your talk sounds good, but
your reputation is bad
But just to show you I'm a good
little coon, I'll tell you where you can
get fine supper, and perhaps after
you have eaten hearty meal I'll sit
down and have friendly chat with
you. How high can you jump" asked
the racoon
"Oh, l can leap pretty high in the
air If there is anything worth jump
ing after" replied the panther, But
tell me where is this good supper you
| talk about
Now I want to assure you, Mr..
Panther, I'm not afraid of you. but
you might make me nervous if you
got too close to me, so if you'll follow
at safe distance I'll lead you to a
| fine supper" And down the tree came
the little racoon. and a moment later
| the panther followed.
When you see me climb q tree"
| said the racoon, you come under that
tree, and there hanging to limb you
will see nice big chunk of venison.
Just jump up and grab it, then sit
down and eat until your sides bulge
out. You see l caper about in these
woods great deal and know all that's
| going on. l saw a hunter hang up
/ that piece of meat for safe keeping.
don't care for deer meat myself, SO
=
| be my friend after this?"
Indeed 1 will, little coon. It's aw-
| fully good of you to help me get q
meal when I'm so hungry
And away they went through the
! woods, the little coon looking over his
! shoulders occasionally to see that the
/ panther kept at safe distance.
Il know" he said to himself, how
he will appreciate what am doing
for him"
And then he laughed at the thought
/ of what he was really going to do to
/ that mean panther. I'm busy more
! than half my time" he continued,
keeping out of that rascars jaws. He
prowls around here every night, and
! all the creatures in the woods are
afraid to enjoy themselves for fear
! he will slip up and grab him"
( Here's your supper, Mr.. Panther, J"
said the little coon as he hurried up
the big tree.
Now the panther is a pretty sly, sus-
! picious sort of chap, and hungry as he
/ was, he did not make haste to jump
up and grab the meat. He shifted the
ground all around the tree, and not
/ finding the cause for suspecting any
! thing wrong he crouched low and leap
ed for the meat. AS he grabbed it
the string with which 1t was tied to
the limb broke and down he came
with fine supper in his mouth, but
| just as his feet touched the ground,
clicki went the big jaws of steel
trap!
The trap-had been well covered with
leaves so that it was not visible, but
as soon as one of the panther's hind
feet had touched it the panther's leg
was caught in it's terrible grip. The
panther set up such howl of mingled
rage and pain that all the creatures in
the woods became alarmed and for a
time were terribly frightened, but
they soon realized that their old
enemy was in trouble and they came
out to learn how serious 1t was.
The turkeys flew down from their
roosts in the big cypress trees and
cautiously drew near to the trapped
panther. The little rabbits scurried
out of their forms In the thick under
brush and timidly approached their
terrible enemy. The deer stopped
feeding and came to within respectful
distance of the bowling monster that
| had made life miserable for them.
Even the smaller animals were awak-
ened and came out to see the savage
creature they dreaded so, fast in a
trap. The raving and jumping of the
panther and. the clanking of the trap
chains that was fastened to the tree,
made all the creatures shiver with
fright But they were rejoiced to know
that the panther would trouble them
| no longer.
How do you like your supper" the
/ little coon called down from the tree.
And then he laughed and said to the
panther that he would have to be go
ing home.
Just about sunrise all the creatures
were startled by the bang of gun!
The little coon peered out of his nest ::