Carleton Marsh was beginning to hand out the papers for the writing
lesson and Jessie Smiley took the box of pens from Miss Davis. It was
her turn to distribute them to the children this week.

"I'll bet Jessie did it," said Sunny Boy, but not out loud. "I'll bet
she unscrewed the general while I was at the blackboard."

Sunny Boy knew that Jessie was mischievous and he also knew that she
could not keep her little fingers off anything that might be lying on
his desk. She had mortified him very much the first week he came to
school by making his camel squeak in class, and it would be just like
her to play with the lead soldier when Sunny Boy was at the board and
Miss Davis was busy helping some pupil.

"I'll bet Jessie did it," said Sunny Boy again to himself.

Just then Jessie looked at him. She smiled, an impish, naughty little
smile, and then Sunny Boy knew he had guessed right. Jessie had
unscrewed the lead soldier general.

"I'll just put him back," whispered Sunny Boy, putting out a cautious
hand toward the soldier. He wasn't going to play with him, he argued,
but Miss Davis might call it playing, if she saw him.

"Here's your pen," said Jessie suddenly.

Sunny Boy jumped a little, for he had not heard her come up to his
desk. His blouse sleeve brushed again the lead general, and what do
you think happened? Splash! Down into the inkwell on Sunny Boy's desk
went that beautiful soldier, down out of sight in the messy ink!