"Yes," he replied, "everybody can do something, Barry," he added, "we've got to stir up Cleverly as it has never been stirred up before. We must have a delegation of citizens come here and present their claims to the members of the Committee on Naval Affairs; we must get in touch with everyone that is worth his salt, and we must have telegrams, letters and petitions fairly rain down upon the members from now until the meeting of the Committee." The shower came and it was helpful. Also, Mr. Smithers sent a telegram, saying that he was organizing a delegation of leading citizens and that they would reach Washington in a few days. Barry, acting under the direction of Mr. Carlton, sent a number of letters to men who would be likely to assist in agitating the superior claims of Cleverly. One day, after a number of these petitions had been presented in the House, Mr. Carlton happened to meet Jesse Hudson. "Hello," said the rival, who was still smarting over his defeat in the Garner claim, "you seem to be busy." "This is my busy day," retorted Carlton, with imperturbable good humor. "What are you trying to do, advertise Cleverly?" persisted Hudson. "Incidentally," replied Carlton. "You know that's all you'll ever get out of it," sneered Hudson. "You know you'll never get that Naval Repair Station." "No; I don't know that," said the man from Maine; "but I'm glad to get the news from such a distinguished authority. You know you are such a reliable prophet. You remember you said the Garner claim was sure to pass." Hudson was too angry to reply to this sally. He stalked down the hall with his chin in the air, looking as if he could bite nails. Carlton, on his part, hurried to the office of the Secretary of the Navy. He was anxious to know whether there was anything new in the proposed naval station legislation. The Secretary was not in, but his chief clerk said he would be glad to give the Congressman any information he might have. "What can you tell me about the proposed station?" asked Carlton. "Nothing, except that a delegation called here yesterday in the interest of Green Island." "They did?" "Yes, sir; and they presented a set of blue prints showing how much the Government would gain by locating the repair station at that point." "Blue prints don't mean everything," commented the Congressman. "That's what the Secretary said, and he referred them to the Board of Experts that visited Cleverly." "Did they go to Green Island?" "No; they have no authority from Congress to examine the site." "But they scrutinized the plans?" "Yes." "What was the verdict?" "That, leaving out geographical considerations, the land at Green Island would make as good a location as that at Cleverly." Mr. Carlton left the office of the Secretary of the Navy in a very thoughtful frame of mind. He realized that the opposition was making progress, and that his own cause was losing ground. CHAPTER XI DISCORD AND DEFEAT