Bill Fuller, the mailman, whistled cheerfully as he 【A1】up the hill towards Mrs. Carter’s house. His work for the day was almost 【A2】, and his bag, usually quite heavy when he started out on his rounds, was 【A3】 now except for the letter that he had to deliver to Mrs. Carter. She lived many blocks away, so when Bill had mail for her, he always finished his day’s work much【A4】. He was happy that Mrs. Carter often【A5】 him coffee and a piece of her special cake.
When Bill got to Mrs. Carter’s house, he was 【A6】 that she did not work in the yard. She usually spent her afternoon when the weather was【A7】. Bill went around to the back of the house,【A8】 that she might be in the kitchen. The door was locked and the curtains were drawn. Puzzled, he returned to the front of the house and knocked loudly on the front door. There was no 【A9】. Bill thought that this was very strange because he knew that Mrs. Carter 【A10】 left the house. Just then he noticed that her bottle of milk. Which is always delivered early in the morning, was still on the porch. This【A11】 him. If Mrs. Carter had not taken her milk, maybe she was 【A12】 . Bill walked around the house 【A13】 he found an open window. It was a 【A14】 window, but he got through successfully.
He went into the hall. There he was almost stumbled(绊倒) over Mrs. Carter, who 【A15】 unconsciously at the foot of the stairs. Realizing that he needed to get help, he rushed out of the house, stopped a passing car and told the driver to go to the nearest telephone and call an ambulance.
【A6】