to such dishonorable extent that they had been given the "silence" by the boys and girls attending the Gridley High School.
Dodge and Bayliss had thereupon left home to attend a private school, and they had gone away from Gridley with bitter hatred of Dick & Co.

rankling in their hearts.
Just at this present moment Dodge and Bayliss were back in the home town.

Deeply and properly humiliated by the contempt with which they were regarded in Gridley, these two "soreheads" had concealed from all but members of their families the fact that they were in town.
Bert had secured from his father the keys of the cottage.

Two cots had been placed in a front room.

Late the night before Dodge had brought food supplies to the cottage.