The door to the boss' office did not bang more than once a year, and that was immediately after the annual meeting of the directors of the Combined Brazilian Coffees.

Who was this potentate who dared desecrate the honored quiet of this loft?
Haggerty's news hit Killigrew hard.

Thomas.

There must be a mistake.
He had not studied men all these years without learning to read young and old with creditable accuracy.

Thomas was as easy to read as an amateur's scorecard; runs were runs, hits were hits, outs were outs.
Why, Thomas wouldn't have stolen an apple from a farmer's orchard--without permission.