Tom was very proud of his dog Blackie. Whenever he got the chance, he would ask his dog to please his friends with some tricks.
One day, Tom went to visit his friend Jack, who was sick at home with a bad cold. "How are you feeling?" asked Tom. "Worse than yesterday," answered Jack. "I have a terrible cough, and there is not a drop of medicine in the house." "Don't worry, Jack. I'll send Blackie to the drugstore for some medicine. He'll be back in a minute," Tom said. He put a five-dollar note in Blackie's mouth, and the dog ran down the street. "And keep the change!" Tom shouted after him.
"Oh, Tom, don't be silly. You know that dog won't be back with any medicine," said Jack. "Oh, yes, he will," answered Tom. Half an hour later, however, Blackie had not returned. Tom was feeling worried and felt annoyed by his friend's knowing smile.
"Something has happened to him, I'm sure," said Tom. "He obeys me as a rule." Just then, Jack saw Blackie in the distance. He hurried to open the door and let him in. Jack was shocked to see a bottle of medicine in the dog's mouth.
"Good boy!" said Tom. "But what took you so long?" Blackie ran to the window, barking and wagging his tail. Tom looked outside and saw a bone on the ground.