Frank was a total abstainer, and his friends had found that nothing would induce him to drink or smoke.
At first they ridiculed him, but they came to secretly admire him, and it is certain that his example was productive of no small amount of good.
Frank's acquaintances declared he had a mighty nerve, for he was able to travel with a crowd that drank and smoked, and still refrained from doing either.

That was something difficult for them to understand.
It was apparent to everybody that Merriwell's popularity did not depend on his ability to absorb beer or his generosity in opening fizz.

It came from his sterling qualities, his ability as an athlete, his natural magnetism, and his genial, sunny nature.

Although he was refined and gentlemanly, there was not the least suggestion of anything soft or effeminate about him.
It is not strange that Merriwell could scarcely believe it possible that Paul Pierson had been in earnest.

Such a thing seemed altogether too good to be true.
"If it's a jolly, he'll not have the satisfaction of knowing that I spread it," Frank decided.