Parentheses around a letter mean that it has to be omitted before the word will fit in the grid. An asterisk indicates a proper name or foreign word. The word the omitted letters spell out is UNPUZZLED.

Across

1. CONTEST
2. ASSA (U) LT
3. ME (N) IAL
4. LIMBIC
5. AYE
6. REAM
7. BONUS
8. RADAR
9. (P) URR
10. ISS (U) E
11. SIDE
12. LATCHED
13. (Z) ENANA
14. CRA (Z) Y
15. RELEGATE
16. APLOMB
17. *SEWE (L) L
18. IRIDIUM
19. MACE
20. PINE
21. DROUGHT
22. SCEN (E) RY
23. TREA (D) LE

Down

• MASSE
• DEMI
• SIMULATE
• LABOR
• SARDINES
• CLINIC
• *DREI
• *EYRE
• MURAL
• EASEL
• BRACELET
• LINEN
• ADAGE
• APRICOT
• TRAIPSE
• CHASM
• BURY
• CUSHY
• RODENT
• MOTTLE
• ARENA
• WAGE

Twenty-four people turned in solutions to the contest puzzle within two hours of receiving it, and five did so within an hour and a half. The first three returns were so close in time (1' 20", 1' 22", and 1' 24") that I decided, given the vagaries of computer clocks and e-mail, to call it a tie. The three winners were Carolyn Roosevelt, Oren Stern, and Kevin Wald. They shared a prize of $75, each receiving $25. Congratulations to all. JdeC