While I was still shuddering, Terry walked in through the door the office boy had inadvertently left open.
He nodded a friendly good morning, helped himself to a chair, tossed his hat and gloves upon the table, crossed his legs comfortably, and looked me over.

I returned the scrutiny with interest while I was mentally framing a polite formula for getting rid of him without giving rise to any ill feeling.

I had no desire to annoy unnecessarily any of the Post-Dispatch's young men.
At first sight my caller did not strike me as unlike a dozen other reporters.

His face was the face one feels he has a right to expect of a newspaper man--keen, alert, humorous; on the look-out for opportunities.
But with a second glance I commenced to feel interested.

I wondered where he had come from and what he had done in the past.