The Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Saved Stories

SOUNDING OFF

Shaded, unclued entries in the finished diagram, in their given order, can be pronounced to provide a gag definition (in the Acrosses) and the term it describes (in the Downs). Answers include seven proper words and a somewhat uncommon term at 7D.

The answers to last month’s Puzzler appear on page 84.

ACROSS

1. Deliver curse, foul and empty (6)

8. Mad mania reviewed by Time (4)

11. Crashing luaus is customary (5)

13. Left in middle of Utah town, without words (7)

14. A court figure heading off a light show (6)

16. Opening of squeezed fruit yields goop (5)

18. America described by Places in the Heart and Country (7)

20. Laugh about a truck in West Indian capital (6)

23. Hold onto tree (4)

25. Hit butcher’s stomach, grabbing pound (6)

26. High paths for a comet (7)

28. Vessel’s side pipe down in drink (9)

33. I like being in bunk with a slant (6)

34. Mechanical device roves freely (5)

35. Live five years with large group (4)

36. He’s a disturbed element! (6)

DOWN

1. Dennis the Menace’s dog collar (4)

2. Sue a renegade man of the Bible (4)

Muslim guest house our gang erected (5)

4. Troglodyte has hail beginning to melt in fire (7)

5. Every second counts in next lurid case (4)

6. Common level still dropping one floor (7)

7. Finally makes company employ Liverpudlian (6)

8. Heard textile worker warning of disaster (4)

9. Force fate in complete article (8)

10. kid gets into musty ketchup (4)

12. Shortened potential delay (5)

15. Split up for “catch” (4)

17. Drug charge—one accepted by criminal—overturned (8)

19. Arranged name for endorsement (4)

21. — Rodent’s victory cheer (4)

22. Bass lay at sea, in the deepest waters (7)

23. Flesh-peddler started with goose flesh (7)

24. Mention dreamer’s activity on boat (6)

27. Polynesian cruise returns to island (5)

28. Cry about tip of little pig (4)

29. Sound from eagle’s nest is ethereal (4)

30. Kitchen sink has layers (4)

31. Ministers’ races (4)

32. Gaffer needs oxygen in bed (4)

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

Answers to the January Puzzles

“CRYPTIC SLALOM”

Across. 5. GRADE (homoph.) 6. WORSEN (anag. — i) 7. DON-A-TES (rev.) 11. HAUL (anag.) 12.0(IN)K 13. ANNIE (even letters) 14. NEAT-H 15. PACER (rev.) 16. L-ENIN (rev.) 20. SI-AM (is rev.) 21. HA-BIT 22. L-ASH 24. CORNEAL (anag.) 25. CH-ASSIS(t) 26. SLUGS (double def.) 27. NIPAS (anag.) 28.WETLY (anag.) Down. 1. PRONOUN-CEMENT 2. PARAPHE(R)NALIA (anag. + r) 3.GASTRONOMICAL 4. VENETIAN GLASS (anag.) 7. DIA-NA (rev.); MAN(G)Y 8.SHIELD (anag.); THAI (homoph.) 9. CANE CHAIR (anag.) 10. AN-TIP-AS-TO 15. P(AIR)UP 17. NOSIL-Y (anag. + Y) 18.VI-O-LA 19.ASSET (anag.) 20.SO-UP 23. HILO (hidden)