How does mr. atkinson develop over the course of the story? 1. he inscribes james's name and date of his death in his sample headstone without knowing james and then tries to protect him. 2.he tells his wife that he doesn't believe in ghosts, but then he meets james and becomes a believer. 3.he is an honorable man who has never committed a crime until he meets james and invites him into his home. 4.he is a rotund man who makes james feel uneasy, but after he invites james in for dinner, he gains his trust.