As a rule, secrecy was important, but sometimes, when cargo was scarce, Cartwright let his plans be known and allowed the _Conference_ to buy him off.

Although his skill in the delicate negotiations was marked, the company paid small dividends and he had enemies among the shareholders.
Now, however, he was satisfied.

_Oreana_ had sailed for Montreal, loaded to the limit the law allowed, and he had booked her return cargo before the _Conference_ knew he was cutting rates.
Mrs.Cartwright talked, but she talked much and Cartwright hardly listened, and looked across the lake.

A canoe drifted out from behind a neighboring point, and its varnished side shone in the fading light.
Then a man dipped the paddle, and the ripple at the bow got longer and broke the reflections of the pines.

A girl, sitting at the stern, put her hands in the water, and when she flung the sparkling drops at her companion her laugh came across the lake.