sion　on　his　face。　She　limped　with　the　first　step；　did　no　more　than　favor　her　right　leg　a　bit　with　the　second；　and　then　even　that　was　gone。　I　remembered　Brutal　handing　the　colored　spool　to　Delacroix　and　saying；　〃Toss　it　…　I　want　to　see　how　he　runs。〃　Mr。　Jingles　had　limped　then；　but　on　the　next　night；　the　night　Del　walked　the　Mile；　he　had　been　fine。

Melly　put　her　arms　around　John　and　hugged　him。　Coffey　stood　there　for　a　moment；　letting　himself　be　hugged；　and　then　he　raised　one　hand　and　stroked　the　top　of　her　head。　This　he　did　with　infinite　gentleness。　His　face　was　still　gray。　I　thought　he　looked　dreadfully　sick。

She　stood　away　from　him；　her　face　turned　up　to　his。　〃Thank　you。〃

〃Right　wele；　ma'am。〃

She　turned　to　Hal　and　walked　back　to　him。　He　put　his　arms　ar