“‘Wait a moment till I close the office, and I will go with you.’ “‘Don’t walk so fast, Ed,’ said Harry when we started toward the jail, ‘I can’t keep up with you; I know you want to see Lottie, but you need not go like a whirlwind.’ “I was compelled to slacken my pace, much against my will, for I wanted to fly to her who was more dear to me than all the world contained. “‘Have you made any new discoveries about the poisoning since you wrote me?’ “‘Nothing definite, but we think we will be able to strike a track soon; there have been strange doings at Mr. Ragland’s house.’ “‘How does Viola bear her trouble?’ “‘Ah! Ed, there is the thing that puzzles me; she acts so strangely in the matter. I can’t understand her. She knows something about this business that she will not tell, though she has promised to explain all when her mind gets more composed.’ “‘Is your confidence in her innocence still unshaken?’ “I was truly sorry I had asked the question when Harry’s eyes met mine. “‘How can you ask me such a question when you are so well aware of the confidence I have in that dear girl? Don’t you know how I love her? Don’t you know I would as soon suspect an angel from Heaven as Viola?’ “I was not surprised at the extravagant language used, because I was in love myself, and knew how Harry felt. I had not walked more than three steps on the jail floor when I heard Lottie’s well-known voice exclaim: “‘That’s Eddie,--I know his walk!’ and in a moment her darling head was on my shoulder, while her tears of joy fell on my breast. ‘Eddie, I am so glad you have come back to help us out of our great troubles; we have been looking for you anxiously, and the moment I heard your step I knew whose it was.’ “My heart was so full of joy that I could not speak for some moments. “‘Come, Ed,’ said Harry, ‘you are making a simpleton of yourself about Lottie; leave her and come with me; we must go to Viola; how is she to-day, sister?’ “‘Improving some little, I think, though she can’t shed tears. If she could only have a good hearty cry, and shed some tears, I believe it would do her a great deal of good. There is a settled look of hopeless despair on her face that frightens me.’ “‘Does she talk much?’ “‘No; she scarcely ever says a word, except to answer questions. I have tried every way I could think of to lead her into conversation, but without success. She eats scarcely enough to sustain life, though she ate more at breakfast this morning than at any one time since she has been here.’ “‘Go in, Lottie, and ask her if she will receive a visit from Edward and me.’ “Lottie returned in a few moments and informed us that Viola would receive us. “‘When I told her that you and Eddie wanted to come in to see her I was delighted to see her face brighten up, and she spoke so quickly and said she would be delighted to see you; I think it is a favorable sign; it is the first time she has manifested the least interest about anything since she has been here.’