e tall policeman who directed
traffic from the center of the street" _Frontispiece_

PAGE

"He had not supposed that a moving stairway went
further than one story" 63

"Sunny Boy was just the least little bit afraid when
they went under the elevator tracks" 91

"Sunny Boy sat down sociably on an old soap box" 165

* * * * *

SUNNY BOY IN THE
BIG CITY

CHAPTER I

THE PARADE

"Fall in!" said Sunny Boy sharply.

The army, six small boys distributed comfortably over the front steps,
scrambled to obey. That is, all except one, who remained seated, a sea
shell held over each ear.

"I said 'Fall in,'" repeated Sunny Boy patiently, as a general should
speak.

"I heard you the first time," admitted the small soldier. "Did you
know these shells made a noise, Sunny?"

"Of course," answered Sunny Boy scornfully. "Any shell sounds like
that if you hold it up to your ear. Come on, Bobbie, we're going to
parade."

But Private Robert Henderson, it seemed, didn't feel like parading
just that minute.

"Let's take this stuff out to the sand-box," he suggested. "We can
make a real beach, with shells and everything. Gee, you must have had
fun at the seashore."

"Did," said Sunny Boy briefly.

He was exasperated. As general of his army he tried not to be cross,
but Bobbie was famous for always spoiling other people's plans. He
never by any chance wanted to do what the other boys wanted to do.

"You can play with the sand-box after we parade," announced Sunny Boy
now. "Come on, Bobbie."

Bobbie remained obstinately absorbed in the shells.

"Let me!" Down the steps tumbled a pink gingham frock and a fluff of
yellow bobbed hair that proved to be four-year-old Ruth Baker. She
lived next door to Sunny Boy, and her brother, Nelson, was already
marking time with the waiting army.

"Let me march, Sunny Boy," Ruth begged. "I can mark time, an'
everything!"

Sunny Boy decided swiftly.

"All right," he assented. "I don't think much of girls in an army, but
I s'pose it's better than being one short. Get in next to David."

Ruth's feelings were not easily hurt, and she didn't mind if her
enlistment was not accepted with enthusiasm as long as she was
accepted. She slipped happily into line back of David Spellman, a
freckle-faced boy with smiling dark eyes.

"Forward, m