The Indianapolis journal., 1903-08-02

7 seen how it was. The bullet had hit a
limb above me and responded an struck
me Iyin fat there on the ground right be-
tween the backbones. / thought of this an
a few t'other things an then passed into
Inconsistencies jist as heard Sam saying,
Fer Gods sake. Billy. We amt shot is yo?'
When I woke UP L was in the hospital
lyin' In a soft bed between clean sheetin
an they was a whole powerful gang round
me, lookin' down at me s If was the miss
in link o. humanity. Den one wise. sour
loodn' man says:
:" The case beats anything 1 ever had.
can't understand it,
Then / begun to get scared again an
asked 'em all what was the mattah.
Yes. what is the mattah,' they all says
to once That's just what we'd like to
know. They amt nuthin' mattah with
you all as we kin see.' says they. You just
git up and see If you amt all right.
'Then / got up an walked around, an
shure 'nough, 1 was all right. 1 told 'em
1 was shot in the back. but they couldn't
find no signs OF a wund nowheres, an says
it was all imagination.
1T was a month later when found out
fore shure what he'd hit me. / met Sam
again. an he says when 1 tole him of the
strangeness of the accident that he knowed
I wasn't shot tall, cause lhe seen it all
by the light of the firing. 'Shucks, he
said. "a bullet did go flying through the
tree. but didn't no more glance than nuthin'.
1t jist nipped a twig loose and thet twig
off an hit you on the back. that's what
injured YOU So you see what a vivid mag
ination kin do fer a Niger. There 1 was
unconscious fer two days cause imagined
1 he'd been shot"
Johnsing gave one long indignant look at
the story teller as he finished, then rose
from the steps and went into his shop.
The others only laughed.
The transfer last week of the house and
lot at 215 West Saint Clair street by Mr..
j. w. Van Camp to a well-known negro
dentist of this city is made interesting by
chain of unusual circumstances connected
with a weeping willow in the yard at the
rear of the house. 1t is fairly well
grown tree, visible from the alley that
passes beside the lot. and is of most dis
tinguished parentage.
There is, or was. many years ago, a
weeping willow at the tomb of Napoleon at
St. Helena. and while it was in the pristine
visor of treeful youth, the island was Wis.,
tied by E. b. C'Lucky'') Baldwin, the mill
ionaire California horseman. Baldwin was
looking for a relic to take home to his
California ranch, so he "swiped" twig
from the Napoleon willow. and his re-
turn home, planted 1t on his ranch near
Pasadena. The willow takes root easily
and grows with freedom, and in the course
of years Mr.. Baldwin had fine willow on
his place, and the tree. THE Napoleon
Willow" became one of the sights of the
place. few years ago Mr.. Van Camp
was in California and visited the Baldwin
ranch. He heard the story of the Napoleon
willow, and in turn ''swiped'' twig. which
In course of time he planted at the rear OF
his house on Saint Clair street, where he
was then living. 1t took root readily, but
came up in two long, slender twigs. which
Mr. Van Camp twisted and tied together
They finally grew togetheqe end for many
years the spiral formation was distinct
ly discernible in the bark, but that has now
grown out.
So il there be those who have difficulty in
their mastery of the French language, it
may be that they can make a deal with the
new owner of the West Saint Clair-street
house to the end that they may sit be-
meath and draw inspiration from the grand
child of the Napoleon willow.
THE most Jealous man I ever heard OF
lived in Morgan county a good many years
ago." remarked d. p. Gray, an Eastern
avenue contractor. This man had a good
looking young wife and they lived in a
cabin on a little farm. One day he discov-
cred that there was something in the house
that made a ticking noise. 1t sounded like
a watch, but as he had watch. he could
not understand the noise. Finally it dawned
on him that his wife probably had a watch
secreted somewhere and his next thought
was that 1t had been given to her by some
man. He questioned her and of course she
Indignantly denied the charge This sus-
picion, however, grew on the man until a
separation between him and his wife was
almost brought about. One can imagine
that he felt very foolish when 1t was dis
covered that the noise was made by an
insect that often gets into old houses and
at times keeps up regular ticking
Give the Sad World Your Sympathy.