“What’s the secret of your remarkable success in becoming the champion amateur athlete of America, Mr. Merriwell?” Again Frank smiled. “Am I the champion of America?” “So called by almost every one.” “Well, there is no great secret about my success. In the first place I began young. I have been working for years to make myself perfect physically without overdoing and breaking down. It’s a delicate thing to know just how much hard work will be beneficial for one, for overdoing invariably weakens. I have been temperate, and I’ve tried to live properly. I have no vices that can weaken me. Petty vices are the ruin of hundreds of would-be athletes. I enjoy life thoroughly without seeking enjoyment in forbidden paths. All the while I have been training my body I’ve trained my mind also. “Mind and body must work together. The chap who wishes to become a champion must be earnest, sincere, and determined. He must never slight his work. He must always keep himself keyed up to the finest possible point. The moment he grows careless or negligent he begins to slump and go backward. He must have unwavering confidence in himself. It’s hard for a youngster to be confident in himself without showing conceit, and then every one wants to kick him. But there is such a thing as absolute and perfect self-confidence without conceit.” Grafter seemed a trifle disappointed. “Have you told me your secret?” he asked. “I informed you that there was no secret about it. The secret of success is generally hard work. Veterans will tell you so.” “But some fellows seem to succeed without working.” “No man has made great success in this world without working; but you know for many men work is play. The boy who enjoys work is certain to be a winner.” Grafter shook his head. “I’m afraid,” he confessed, “that I’ll never be much of a winner at anything, for I do not enjoy work.” “Learn to enjoy it.” “How can I?” “Put your heart into it. Get interested. That’s the trick. Never do a thing with the simple desire to get it done quickly, but with the determination to get it done well.” “That’s good advice, I reckon,” admitted Grafter; “but can you tell me how it is that you happen to be an all-round champion, yet able to defeat fellows who have made a special effort to excel in one particular line?” “I have told you the whole secret. Other fellows may have been content to perfect themselves in one or two lines; I have tried to become perfect in many lines. Some things I like better than others. If I attempt a thing that I do not like very well, I work at it all the harder. If I find some other fellow who can do it better than I, then I set out to do it better than he can, and I never stop until I succeed. Even then, I generally find still another chap who is my superior and keep on trying to beat him.” “But you were specially adapted to become a great athlete. You were athletic when a boy?”