"Years ago, when your father and I were young men we conceived the idea that the Government should build a great naval supply station at Cleverly. He even went so far as to draw up rough plans. But the time was not ripe for it and the notion was abandoned. Since your good father's death there have been spasmodic attempts to revive the plan, but they never amounted to anything. Now, however, the conditions are all favorable, and I believe that with a little strategy and a great deal of industry, I can win the fight and make Cleverly a household name in the United States instead of a mere speck on the map." "That would be splendid," cried Barry, his eyes glowing with pleasure. "The big secret," continued the Congressman, "is the fact that the Government is now ready to act." "Do you mean that they're going to build a station at Cleverly?" asked Barry, excitedly. Mr. Carlton laughed. "No; hardly that. I mean that the officials of the Government who have charge of our Navy have decided that we need a new Naval Repair Station. It remains for Congress to say where the station shall be located and to appropriate the money to pay for it. Now, I think, and Mr. Conway thinks, too, that the City of Cleverly can furnish the ideal site for this station." "I don't suppose," chimed in the journalist, "that Barry can have much interest in the subject." "Yes, I have," exclaimed the boy; "I think it's real exciting." Both men laughed at the boy's enthusiasm. "The excitement," observed the journalist, "will come when it becomes known that the Government intends to build the new station." "When will it become known?" "Very soon, I think. Mr. Carlton is going to have an interview with the Secretary of the Navy this afternoon. A great deal depends on the result of that talk." Little Joe Hart had been listening to the conversation with great intentness. He looked up now with a comical twist of the mouth. "Mr. Conway," he exclaimed, with mock seriousness, "you can depend on my support." They all laughed heartily at this sally. Mr. Carlton turned to the newspaper man: "You see," he said, "we have two young gentlemen with us already." "Yes," was the retort, "but, unfortunately, they have no votes." "They will have some day," commented the Congressman soberly, "and I hope they will exercise that power for the good of the country." By this time the car had reached the Treasury Department and was going around the massive pile of granite which houses the officials and the employees who look after the finances of the nation. Mr. Carlton and his friends alighted at the next corner and walked the remainder of the distance to their destination. They passed the White House, the modest looking dwelling which is the home of the President of the United States. Barry looked at it curiously. "What do you think of it?" asked Mr. Conway. Barry hesitated. "Come out with it," insisted the journalist. "Well," said the boy reluctantly, "it doesn't look much."