But he sat down to entertain Belton's room-mate for a while.

He did not care to rehearse his oration before him and he felt able to rout him at any time.

They conversed on various things for a while, when Belton's room-mate took up a book and soon appeared absorbed in reading.

He was sitting on one side of a study table in the center of the room while the Mississippian was on the other.
Thinking that his visitor had now stayed about long enough, the Mississippian stooped down quietly and removed one shoe.

He slyly watched Belton's room-mate, chuckling inwardly.