The Atlantic Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Saved Stories

ABC

The 26 letters of the alphabet have been planted in an otherwise blank diagram. Since the usual bars and numbers are absent from the grid, solvers must use these 26 letters as guides in entering answers to clues. (The clues are listed randomly and are numbered 1-40 simply for convenience.) Some clue answers may not cross any of the 26 planted letters, but in the completed diagram, of course, each of the 26 will be in at least one word. Answers include seven proper words; 15 is uncommon; there is a variant spelling at 16.

The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 113.

CLUES

1. Bloke in seaside shelter (4)

2. turned back a punch in part of California (4)

3. Beyond understanding, love gambling game (4)

4. Laugh at B & O rail rider (4)

5. Russian author left behind disco (5)

6. Japanese beverage’s benefits (5)

7. Some horses nibble grass loudly (5)

8. Summer leafage hides blackbird (5)

9. Article about professional cook’s garb

(5)

10. Rush round with enthusiasm (5)

11. Chinese philosopher stole a cuckoo

(6) (hyphenated)

12. Someone digging around for fan (6)

13. Watt drawing support for underhanded character (6)

14. Show up with a piece of passion fruit

(6)

15. Vegetarian’s strange mirage (6)

16. Progress set back in discussion (6)

17. Void surrounding one tvpe of plant

(6)

18. Blow shattered rural quiet (6)

19. Overhead train has even number (6)

20. A zinnia’s foremost a meadow flower

(6)

21. Join Greene, the actor, turning 50 (6)

22. Heard someone lapping booze (6)

23. A Pole’s foreign to Texas town (6) (two words)

24. Damages about ten saws (6)

25. Skillful, absorbing each loss (6)

26. “Return” summarizes part of a typewriter (6)

27. I pull up with good old (Chinese book (6) (two words)

28. Miffed to the max, so take it easy (6)

29. Coach in bumpy terrain (7)

30. Scott Joplin piece included in lively Afro medley (7)

31. One bronze boxing heavyweight champ, like Rocky Balboa? (7)

32. Close behind barrier, a marsupial (7)

33. Endurance specialist running start of marathon in modern-day Persia (7) (two words)

34. Stirs drinks boisterously after the first (7)

35. Rap hand, breaking ground (7)

36. Justify conflict with harangue (7)

37. Terribly appealing bonus (9)

38. Scottish king incorporates drill in celebrations (9)

39. Resentment about troubles of rogues GO)

40. Monstrous female French author gets cheese (10)

Note: The instructions above are for this month’s puzzle only. It is assumed that you know how to decipher dues. For a complete introduction to clue-solving, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to The Atlantic Puzzler, 8 Arlington Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.

Answers to the July Puzzler,

“GARDEN

PLOT”

I. R(I)OT 2. (h)ARBOR 3. B-IOTA 4. STAB (rev.) 5. IRI(A)l) (dirt rev.) 6. MAROONS (double def.) 7. BITTEK-N 8. TO-ASTER 9. F-ATTY 10.O-AS-IS

11. IMPRESS (anag. of persimmons minus mon) 12. RE(DC)AS 13.HER(BAG)E 14. B(EAR)ING (are anag.) 15. DWAR-F (anag. + f) 16.(a)SLAB (rev.) 1 7. RALLIES 18. A-GRE(AG)E 19. GR(O)ANEl) (anag. + 0 ) 20. GR-ANGER 21. DENIALS (hidden) 22.S(L)AW 23.VA(L)ES (vase anag.) 24.1-(M)PEACH 25. ETHANOL (anag.) 26. GORILLA (anag.) 27. (y)AR(MORE)D 28. MAS(T)S 29. SPITE (anag.) 30. T-HOR(I)T-HOR(I)UM(humor anag.) 31.HE-LICAL (lilac anag.) 32. C( RIME )AN 33. SPE(a)RM(int) 34. (b)ERR(y)’s 35. SOLD-O 36. DAN(E)S (anag. +e) 37. EASE (hidden)