"That's easily fixed," smiled the Congressman.
"How?"
"We'll take Joe along as a guide for Barry."
The two men and boys boarded a Pennsylvania Avenue trolley and were soon proceeding to the other end of the thoroughfare.
"My boy," said Mr. Carlton to Barry, "I think we might as well take you into our confidence."
"Yes, sir."
"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.