"
CHAPTER XIX
SUSAN'S DISCOVERY
Although Jennings appeared to acquiesce in Mallow's suggestion
that the case should be abandoned, he had not the slightest
intention of leaving the matter alone. His professional pride
was irritated by the difficulties, and he swore that he would
in some way learn the truth. Moreover, the matter did not
only deal with the death of Miss Loach, but with the discovery
of a coining gang. From various obvious facts connected with
the Crooked Lane crime, Jennings made sure that such a gang
was in existence, and that the factory had been in the
unfinished house. Now that the house was burnt down, it would
seem that the coiners had lost their city of refuge, and would
probably give up their nefarious trade. As the gang--
judging from the number of false coins circulated during the
past five years--had been in existence for a long time, it
was probable that the members had made sufficient money to
retire from so dangerous a business.
"I wonder if the house was set on fire by this arrested man,
out of revenge," thought Jennings, as he dressed to go out,
"or whether the gang, finding things were growing dangerous
since the death of Miss Loach, ordered him to destroy the
factory? I can hardly think that, as to preserve the secret,
Miss Loach was assassinated. It is not likely that after
paying so terrible a price, such destruction would be agreed
upon. Certainly the factory may be removed to another place.
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