Suddenly he signalled
his chauffeur to stop.
"Hello, Billy!" he called; and a young naval officer who was walking
down the steps turned and came toward him.
"What have you been doing with yourself?" said Gamble. "Mr.
Montague, my friend Lieutenant Long, of the Engineers. Where are you
going, Billy?"
"Nowhere in particular," said the officer.
"Get in," said Gamble, pointing to the vacant seat between them. "I
am showing Mr. Montague the town."
The other climbed in, and they went on. "The Lieutenant has just
come up from Brooklyn," he continued. "Lively times we had in
Brooklyn, didn't we, Billy? Tell me what you have been doing
lately."
"I'm working hard," said the Lieutenant--"studying."
"Studying here in Newport?" laughed Gamble.
"That's easy enough when you belong to the Engineers," said the
other. "We are working-men, and they don't want us at their balls."
"By the way, Gamble," he added, after a moment, "I was looking for
you. I want you to help me."
"Me?" said Gamble.
"Yes," said the other. "I have just had notice from the Department
that I am one of a board of five that has been appointed to draw up
specifications for machine oil for the Navy.
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