code: public long getLongProperty( String key , long defaultValue )
      {
          String value = SystemTools.replaceSystemProperties(settings.getProperty(key));
          if (value == null)
              return defaultValue;
          try
          {
              return Long.parseLong(value);
          }
          catch (Exception e)
          {
              return defaultValue;
          }
      }
docs: Get a property by name
  @param key the property name