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Puzzle #55– December 2005  "Christmas Card "

Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (words vary in length from three to eight letters and include three proper names), then enter them in the grid one after another in the same order as their clues, starting in the upper left corner. Across words that don't end at the right margin continue on the next line, and down words that don't end at the bottom margin continue in the next column. Eight across words and eight down words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is removed. Those sixteen letters, taken in order, spell a timely two-word phrase. As ever, I am indebted to Kevin Wald for help with the clues. As ever, I am indebted to Kevin Wald for help with the clues. (If you are having trouble printing these puzzles, you can download an Adobe Acrobat version of the puzzle and grid). [Want to see some hints?]

Across

  1. Mystery word
  2. Runner, retired, started learning to play on the bagpipe
  3. Long-handled tool to remove skin
  4. Premier distressed after losing royal dominion
  5. Greeting the return of mom with an expression of regret
  6. Smooth and fresh, with momentum to compensate for lost lead
  7. Boy endlessly playing the odds
  8. Erase a mark around a juncture line
  9. Control and rule by proclamation
  10. Encourage a wager
  11. Follow course around source of river
  12. Boat kept in shed or yard
  13. Southern town harbors English set
  14. Mystery word
  15. My uncle in France loses new lens
  16. Lady's out of sole and char
  17. Deviant asks about a northern state
  18. Stool pigeon is at home earlier
  19. One man that keeps quiet is run through with a stake
  20. Straight man goes to bedlam
  21. Bare bodies beaten with rod
  22. Material included in comic repertory
  23. Denying indigen eats a lot of egg
  24. Mystery word

Down

  1. The crime resolved and sealed off
  2. Seedy pinniped eats half of minnow
  3. Hear couple shave
  4. Turns east in decline
  5. In Paris papa eats meat spread
  6. Governor occupied a chair to talk
  7. Legendary messenger sending out city's blessing
  8. Lois runs a shelter
  9. Character expression begun in Melville novel
  10. Informer going back east for weapon
  11. Large, not-all-there family with one bathing suit
  12. Mark not seen in river
  13. Unrefined, erratic, leaderless driving
  14. Immediately taken back
  15. Food vendor is coarser in speech
  16. River streaming as a rill at the start
  17. City coming back in my recollection
  18. Food from clambake
  19. Bumpkin doesn't finish harness
  20. Golly! A thousand bucks
  21. Bending of the knees in initially prone position
  22. Wire trap
  23. Boy and animal take part in dramatic presentation
  24. Study English, then start to reckon and deliberate

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