code: public static long getLong(java.util.Properties properties,
                                 String prop, long defaultVal) {
          String propVal = properties.getProperty(prop);
          return  (propVal != null)
              ? Long.parseLong(propVal)
              : defaultVal;
      }
docs: Returns the {@code long} value associated with {@code prop} in {@code
  properties} or the provided default value if {@code prop} is unset.