Mr.Dodge took them, soon after, down onto Main Street with him.
The first public whisper of the news sent it flying fast over Gridley.
By nine o'clock Main Street was unwontedly crowded.

Groups of men, women and young people everywhere discussed the "awful news." Those who had been privileged to hear Dodge and Bayliss tell the story were looked upon as most interesting people.
Of course a few Gridleyites tried to find the parents of the "slain" boys and express their sympathy, but the parents of the members of Dick & Co., strangely enough, could not be found.
With many repetitions of the story, Dodge and Bayliss almost unintentionally began to picture themselves as heroes, who had risked their lives in order to bring the single survivor away to safety.
"There's some good in young Dodge and Bayliss, after all," was a not infrequent comment that morning.
"It must have taken real nerve, anyway, for them to make that thrilling rescue of Hazelton," said others.
So Dodge and Bayliss, much to their astonishment and not a little to their delight, found themselves somewhat in the hero class.
Their exhausted, wild-eyed, haggard appearance gave more color to the story of the harrowing experience they claimed to have undergone in rescuing Hazelton from that awful field of carnage up by the second lake.
At ten o'clock Mr.Pollock's automobile drew up at the rear door of the "Blade" building.

Hazelton slipped out, crouching low in the car, that he might not be seen and recognized, while Mr.
Pollock and his star reporter, Len Spencer, openly entered and drove away.

They made straight for the wilderness camp of Dick & Co.

Once out of the town Harry rose to a comfortable seat, and made up some of his lost sleep during the trip.
One thing that puzzled the excited citizens of Gridley was the placid way in which the chief of police and the sheriff of the county appeared to take the sad news.
Mr.Pollock drove his car as close to camp as he could, after which he and his companions hurried over the uneven ground until they came upon five high school boys seated outside.
"How did it all work out, Harry ?" shouted Dick, leaping up as soon as he saw his approaching comrade.
"It is working in great shape, you young scoundrel!" roared Editor Pollock, gripping Dick Prescott's hand.