That might defeat the very end she sought.

She was single-handed.

For all she knew, she was fighting the almost limitless power of brains and money of Preston.
Inquiry developed the fact that Preston himself was reported to be in Chicago with his fiancee.

Time and again she was on the point of making the journey to let him know that some one at least was watching him.
But, she reflected, if she did that she might miss the one call from Florence for help.
Then she thought bitterly of the false hopes she had raised in the despairing father of Florence Gibbons.

It was maddening.
Several times during the day Constance dropped into the Betsy Ross, without finding any word.
Late that night the buzzer on her door sounded.