He said now--sharply: "What do you know about naval officers or navy life, J. J.?" The Honorable J. J. Flavin had never, not even when he was only ward leader and therefore much more disposed to humility than now, been able to reconcile Carlin's unworshipful tongue with his own sense of what was due a man of importance in the political world. And Judas priest, he had a tongue of his own if it came to that! "Of course, you know all about it!" he retorted. "No, I don't," replied Carlin promptly and placidly. "But I probably know more than do you or almost anybody else who has never had the chance to live aboard ship and see some of it. This afternoon the officers of this ship are spreading themselves according to service traditions to give you and me and all aboard here a good time. To-morrow they'll be to sea and on the job, a simple-living, busy crowd--working hard, taking chances, and making no talk about it." Flavin whoofed a funnel of doubting cigar smoke into the teeth of the air-port breeze. "Taking chances! How? And where?" "Everywhere. Day and night--battleships, destroyers, in submarines and aeroplanes. Thirty men and officers killed in one turret explosion only last month." "Taking chances--huh! Foolish chances!" "Anybody who isn't living to see how long he can live takes a foolish chance once in a while. That turret crew were on the battle-range trying to make big-gun records." "And did they make 'em?" "They did. And their seven-inch batteries made 'em, too. Single guns and broadsides at ten thousand five hundred yards." "I didn't hear about that," growled Flavin. "No? That's a shame, J. J. The department ought to 've wired you about it." Flavin eyed Carlin sidewise. No use--he would never change. Would he never get on to himself? Flavin wondered. Carlin ought to have been one of the best-advertised men in his line in the country, as everybody around Washington said, but a fellow liable to hop out any time and bat somebody that could be of use to him over the eye, how could anybody go boosting him? "They must 'a' treated you pretty well, Carlin?" he hazarded slyly. "They treated me well--yes," snapped Carlin. "And they're treating you pretty decently now, aren't they?" "I'd like to see 'em treat me, or any member o' Congress, any other way!" "A member of Congress--that's right. And as a member of Congress you're drawing down how much, J. J.?" "Seventy-five hundred a year--and allowances," replied Flavin, looking around the wardroom and not caring particularly who might hear the figures.