Free Jack & Harry by Tony McKenna

Paddy.
    â€˜I know what you’re thinkin,’ lads, that I’ll take yer ten bob and disappear. I’d think the same, lads, if it weren’t me that was involved. You can trust me, lads. You meet me back here on this street corner at five thirty this evenin’ and your old friend’ll be here, mark my words or me name’s not Paddy O’Brien.’
    The last phrase made the boys even jitterier. The thought that his name might not be Paddy O’Brien went through their minds.
    â€˜Don’t you trust me, lads?’ Paddy stood with a hurt expression on his face.
    â€˜Yeah, I suppose so.’ Jack was hesitant but took ten shillings from his pocket and handed it to Paddy, still unsure if he would ever see it again.
    â€˜You won’t be regrettin’ it, lads, not at all, not at all. See you back here at half past five then.’ Paddy hurried across the street to the hotel and the two boys walked away to fill in time and explore Kalgoorlie.

Chapter Six
    They looked at the huge clock in the tower on Hannan Street and saw it was well after five o’clock. They hurried back toward the agreed meeting place wondering if Paddy would be there or if they would have to look for him somewhere and try and get their ten bob back. Not that it was likely because they knew Paddy would have well spent it by now on ‘the doins.’
    Rounding a corner of the street they were pleasantly surprised to see the small figure of Paddy O’Brien, hat set at a jaunty angle on his head, leaning on a lamppost on the corner outside the hotel.
    â€˜Paddy, Paddy,’ they called excitedly as they ran to where he stood.
    â€˜Ahh, me lads; Said I wouldn’t let you down now didn’t I then? Let’s go, it’s a bit of a walk. Have you got the two quid on you?’
    Paddy grunted satisfaction when they said they had the money with them.
    â€˜How’s your Aunty then?’ Paddy asked as he walked quickly ahead of them.
    â€˜OK,’ Harry replied quietly not wanting the conversation to continue.
    Paddy led them to the outskirts of town and down a lane toward a large corrugated iron machinery shed surrounded by trees. There were a few cars parked in the bush and saddled horses tethered nearby.
    â€˜This is the place then.’ Paddy walked purposefully toward the shed only to be stopped by a man who stepped from the bushes beside the track to bar their way.
    â€˜So it’s you again, Paddy, but you can’t take those kids into the game; they’ll have to wait here.’
    â€˜Now look.’ Paddy was soulful, ‘These lads are me mates, we’re travellin’ together. It wouldn’t be right to be leavin’ ’em standin’ out here in the paddock now would it? They don’t plan to come in they’ll just wait outside for me. No harm in that is there?’
    The man scratched his head then reluctantly agreed but said that they had better not cause any trouble. Paddy just waved his hand and shook his head to indicate that there would be no trouble at all so the man let out a low whistle as a signal. As the three of them moved on there was a replying whistle from closer to the shed.
    â€˜What’s goin’ on, Paddy?’ The boys were mystified.
    â€˜Oh, they’re the cockatoos,’ Paddy responded and kept walking.
    â€˜Cockatoos?’ Both boys said in unison ‘What do ya mean by cockatoos?’ Harry asked.
    â€˜Well, they’re the lookouts. They call ’em ‘cockatoos’ because just like those big white parrots, that screech warnin’ to their mates when danger is approachin’, these blokes let the players know if there’s a raid or if anyone suspicious might be comin’. That way the blokes can put the kip and the pennies away and bolt. Now you be quiet, lads.’ Paddy closed the subject as they neared the big shed.
    Instead of going in the main entrance he circled around the back of