Jack & Harry by Tony McKenna Read Free Book Online

m’self another beer.’
    Jack looked at Harry who shook his head but Jack turned to the man. ‘Would you like five bob, mister?’
    â€˜How would you have five bob?’ His eyes had trouble focusing.
    â€˜Me dad’s sick at home and another bloke put the money on Comic Court for us … er, for Dad.’ Jack held out the betting ticket. ‘If you could collect the winnings for us …’
    Harry interrupted. ‘As we can’t go into the bar.’
    â€˜Dad said whoever did us a favour, to give them five bob,’ Jack continued.
    â€˜Well five bob’s five bob, more than I got now. I’ll collect it for you.’ He took the ticket from Jack.
    â€˜We’ll be right here, mister … waiting.’ Harry tried to sound as grown up and menacing as possible.
    â€˜Don’t worry! I won’t run off with your dough, tempting as it is.’ He gave a wry smile then walked unsteadily into the bar as Jack and Harry waited anxiously for him to return, hoping they hadn’t made a mistake in their choice of courier. The man didn’t notice the relief on their faces as he came out of the bar some time later and walked over to them.
    â€˜See!’ He held his fist aloft with a wad of notes in it. ‘I’m a lot of things but not a thief, boys. I’ve got your money … oh, I mean your dad’s money!’ He emphasised the word ‘ dad’s’ . ‘Now about that commission.’ He fixed them with a steely gaze. ‘I reckon ten bob’d be fair.’
    â€˜His dad said five bob,’ Harry quickly replied.
    â€˜Well then, I’m sure that if I took the money to his dad that he’d give me ten bob. Where do you live, son?’ He turned to Jack. ‘I’ll come home with you to make sure your dad gets the money and you two don’t spend any of it on the way.’
    â€˜No! No, mister! He’s really sick and can’t see anyone.’ Jack was desperate now. ‘What he’s got is, is … ahh, contagious,’ he added. ‘You could catch it too. I’m sure he’d agree to ten bob wouldn’t he, Harry?’
    Harry looked crestfallen but nodded agreement.
    â€˜OK then, here you are.’ The man peeled off a ten shilling note from the wad and placed the rest of the money in Jack’s outstretched hand. Without another word he turned and weaved his way back inside the bar with his new found wealth.
    â€˜Gee, Jack, how much we got?’
    â€˜A fortune,’ Jack laughed. ‘Let’s go count it, Harry.’
    Down at the creek the two boys excitedly counted the money, three times, just to be certain they were right. ‘Twelve pound, ten shillings plus the bit of change we had over.’
    â€˜OK. You still want to do this, Harry?’ Jack looked at his friend suddenly. “You know … run away?’
    Both boys stopped smiling as the significance of the moment hit them. It was now decision time. Up to this moment it had all seemed like a bit of a game but now they had the money and they glanced at the packs holding their clothes that they had sneaked out that morning and hidden by the river, the seriousness of their actions made them uneasy.
    â€˜Nothin’ else we can do, Jack.’
    â€˜Guess not, Harry. We’ll be OK, it’s just Mum and Dad I’m worried about.’
    â€˜Me too, Jack. My folks are gonna to be mad as hell … and worried sick.’
    â€˜We’ll send ’em a note down the track in a couple of days, Harry. Then they can stop worrying.’
    They stood, picked up their bags and glanced around to make sure they hadn’t left anything behind.
    â€˜Let’s go then.’ They shook hands to seal the deal and walked purposefully from the river toward their new life on the run from the law.

Chapter Four
    The snub-nosed Commer truck laboured up the hill as the driver changed down a gear. It was cramped in the