At four o'clock he was surprised by the appearance of Atwill, the "Courier's" manager.

Dan had no acquaintance with Atwill, whose advent had been coincident with the "Courier's" change of ownership shortly after Dan's tentative connection with the paper began.

Atwill had rarely visited the editorial department, but it was no secret that he exercised general supervision of the paper.

It had been whispered among the reporters that every issue was read carefully in proof by Atwill, but Dan had never been particularly interested in this fact.

As Atwill appeared in the outer office, Bassett came from his own room to meet him.