Jack & Harry Read Online Free Page B

Some of the best opal in the world is mined there and it brings big quids that’s for sure. Overseas buyers pay lots for quality stone.’
    â€˜I saw some opal jewellery in a shop in the city last week.’ Jean joined in the conversation. ‘Blue, very beautiful.’
    â€˜What were you doing looking at jewellery, dear?’ Mock anger from Claude.
    â€˜Only looking, only looking,’ she laughed.
    â€˜You could have brought me some back, Jack, I wouldn’t have minded an opal necklace. Mind you, I wouldn’t have anywhere to wear it out to.’ Alice stood and gave Jack a good-natured clip across the head. ‘Better start to clear things away.’
    â€˜Didn’t have time to dig, dear and couldn’t afford to buy any,’ Jack replied. ‘It’s not just the blue that’s worth the big quid you know although that’s very popular. The black opal … that’s the prized find.’
    â€˜Black opal?’ Jim and Eric said in unison.
    â€˜I’ve never heard of that, Jack,’ Claude added.
    â€˜Pretty rare but worth a fortune and they reckon it’s up there somewhere. ‘Fire in the Stone’ they call it.’
    â€˜Fire in the stone eh? Sounds sort of mystical,’ Janet said wistfully.
    â€˜More magical than mystical, Janet.’ Jack went on. ‘If I was a young bloke with no responsibility that’s where I’d be headed. Coober Pedy diggin’ for opal.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ Eric added thoughtfully. ‘Jim and I talked about going out there years ago but of course with the depression the market went out of opal, worth darn near nothing for the effort.’
    â€˜That was the case all right but then you know about the Aboriginal lady, what was her name?’ Jack paused thoughtfully. ‘Dottie Bryant, yes that’s it. She made a big find about five or six years ago just after the war and now there’s a big rush out there.’
    â€˜Its a young bloke’s game though, Jack. Lot of hard yakka and there’s always the chance you might not find a thing.’
    â€˜That’s what I mean about ‘magical’, Eric,’ Jack said. ‘You just never know ….’
    â€˜Did you hear that, Harry?’ Jack leaned close to whisper in Harry’s ear. ‘Best opal in the world at Coober Pedy and my dad’s been there eh?’
    â€˜Sounds pretty good, Jack. Maybe when we leave school we could head up there and make a fortune. Buy two bloody bikes each.’
    â€˜Yeah!’ giggled Jack. ‘That’d show that Billy Munse a thing or two.’
    â€˜I’m thinkin’ of showin’ him a coupla things on Monday, Jack. Me fists.’
    The womenfolk began to clear away the remaining glasses and the few plates that were left and the visitors made moves to pack their things saying that it was time to get the kids home to bed.
    â€˜Hey, Jack, who do you reckon’ll win the Cup next Tuesday?’
    â€˜The Cup? Do you mean the Melbourne Cup?’ Claude asked.
    â€˜What other Cup is there?’ Jim had a surprised tone in his voice.
    â€˜Claude doesn’t know much about horse racing do you, dear?’ Jean reached over and patted her husband’s knee, springing to his defence. ‘He’s a real cricket buff though, knows a lot about the tests.’
    â€˜I know enough about horse racing to know that anything can win the Melbourne Cup. There’s never any ‘sure thing’ when it comes to the Cup.’
    â€˜There is this year,’ Jack stated. ‘Comic Court will win the cup.’
    â€˜Comic Court? Cripes, Jack,’ Eric laughed. ‘Have you gone crackers, mate? Not a chance.’
    â€˜Yeah pull the other leg,’ Jim agreed. ‘My money’s on Chiquita.’
    â€˜Mine too.’ Claude glanced at his wife. ‘Just a few bob though. Not a betting man you know but I like a flutter on the