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Acrostic Puzzle #9--July 2003 by Accipiter

Instructions: Solve the cryptic clues, and transfer the letters of the answers to the appropriate squares in the grid. The grid will reward you with a quotation. The first letters of the clue answers, reading down, reveal the name of the author and the title of the work. Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary was used in the construction of this puzzle. I am gateful as always to Claire Trazenfeld for her skill and patience in test-solving these puzzles. Please submit author, title, and last word of the quotation by July 20, 2003. (If you are having trouble printing these puzzles, you can download an Adobe Acrobat version of the puzzle). Find the grid for this puzzle here.

One further note: The grid this month includes blacked-in squares indicating word divisions, in the usual style of crosswords and similar puzzles. My reason for according solvers this bit of help should become obvious as the puzzle takes form. I would be happy to black in squares on all future acrostic grids if a majority of solvers would prefer to have them in that format. Please indicate your preference when you submit your solution.
CLUES ANSWERS
A Magistrate deserved diamonds ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                
113 161 132 7 126 71 30                
B Really hot action ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                  
111 179 5 28 65 82                  
C Tailless parrot clutching Haitian's pretty earthenware ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___              
62 13 117 143 148 156 22 93              
D Naughty Tom, nude on a horse! ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                
92 77 15 154 109 189 106                
E Second person starts to yawn, opens up another love letter (3-3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                  
163 61 50 130 123 18                  
F Sinking lower, dance tends to become wild ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___          
183 150 42 36 80 6 46 147 165 141          
G Mended undies including top of zipper with the surface not prepared ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                
144 187 115 118 75 33 178                
H Shredded newspaper, then diploma ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                  
16 63 32 188 182 162                  
I A few lacking iron and energy; a few better than usual ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                
37 1 10 155 74 79 47                
J "O" (not "H") in German feature ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                
86 91 14 57 172 107 49                
K Let nun (Reformed) pass through a barrier ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                  
152 176 101 103 88 124                  
L Experiment briefly edited, speeded up ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___            
184 151 67 56 59 135 78 128 145            
M

Dishonorable discharge in Madrid's very dirty

 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                    
119 108 45 40 23                    
N Flexible pipe fitting that is starting to leak, doing without ring ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___              
121 8 87 26 166 170 73 125              
O Toasted dark nuts, including last bit of pecan ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                    
190 31 17 112 94                    
P Undivided less 90? That's hard to comprehend ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                
43 38 66 159 122 55 95                
Q Believed to be pickup truck at the Front leading Peron's return ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___              
97 114 131 186 85 25 127 153              
R Lecherous lover at the end--and maybe in the middle ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                    
21 11 12 68 142                    
S Possession that's painful: rolling pin! Hers! ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___            
2 138 84 104 24 70 53 81 136            
T Cross plank holding bridge ___ ___ ___ ___                      
35 76 64 72                      
U Not much sympathy in this fictional farm (2 wds) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___        
133 175 4 27 146 83 120 171 41 185 60        
V Tolkien character assumes last of debts for follower of English philosopher ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                
139 20 9 181 98 52 180                
W Ridiculed date-nut mixture ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                
160 140 3 90 137 168 89                
X Stoke Arco stove--such things provide warmth ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___            
44 157 105 34 174 100 54 110 167            
Y

Showing the skill of a Dodger: a run (first of ten)--perfect play at last

 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___              
58 134 116 19 96 39 149 51              
Z Packaged with lid off, classified for suitable viewing ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                    
48 69 173 169 99                    
AA Bill showed the way, out of consideration ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___                  
102 164 29 177 158 129                  

© Copyright 2003. Marie Dunphy. All rights reserved.