OnThursdayafternoonwithallthehousework 61 (finish)MrsWhitelockedthedoorandwenttothewomen’sclub__62__usual.Itwasapleasantwayofpassingtimeforanoldwomanwholivedalone.Whenshecamehomeshesensedsomething 63 (usual).Hadsomeonegotin?Thebackdoorandthewindowswerealllockedandtherewasnosignofforcedentry.Hadanythingbeentaken?Shewentfromroomtoroomcheckingandfoundhercameraandwatch 64 (miss).
The 65 (follow)Thursdayshewentoutatherusualtimebutdidn'tgototheclub.Insteadshetookashortwalkinaparknearbyandcamehome 66 (let)herselfinthroughthebackdoor.Shesettleddowntowaitandseewhat 67 (happen).
Itwas4o'clockwhenthefrontdoorbellrang.MrsWhitewasmakingteaatthetime.Thebellrangagainandthenextmomentsheheardherletter-boxbeingpushedopen.Pickingupthekettle(壶)ofboilingwatershemovedquietlytowardsthedoor.Apieceofwireappearedthroughtheletter-boxandthenahand.Thewireturnedandcaughtaroundtheknot(圆形旋钮)onthedoor-lock.MrsWhiteraisedthekettleandpouredthewateroverthehand.Asharpcrywasheardoutsideasthewirefelltothefloorandthehandwaspulledback 68 wasfollowedbythesoundofrunningfeet.
Itwasn’tlong 69 thepolicecaughtthethief.AndMrsWhitewasadmiredattheclubforher 70 (success)self-protection.