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Puzzle #34 - March 2004 "Fair Play"

Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (words vary in length from three to nine 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 below; down words that don't end at the bottom margin continue in the next column to the right. Four across words and five down words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is omitted. Those nine letters, taken in order, spell a word that suggests how all words are to be treated before they are entered in the grid. As ever, I am grateful 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. Quiet finesse captures one vessel
  2. Submissive cry of cat
  3. A block style of furniture
  4. Furtiveness of the last movement
  5. Purple backing in the cupboard
  6. Stout? Removing a dress takes time
  7. Function without Latin
  8. Flat surface of Roman bread
  9. Near a shifting field of action
  10. Image is worthless in expression
  11. Combined and flavored with core of salep
  12. Earthy nude man shimmying
  13. Sound law restrains holy one
  14. Exclude bishop and horse
  15. Minicar used to secure fallen flyer
  16. Hall with male fish
  17. Romantic muddle involves hot genetic material
  18. Pierce top of paper stack
  19. Find most of hair consumed
  20. An element can rise when converted
  21. Dour nature's in trouble

Down

  1. Confine one after another by proclamation
  2. Strive for a pinnacle
  3. Chemical extraction of coffee's terpenes
  4. After end of toast, everyone's high
  5. Force is certain to follow before end of crisis
  6. Address a beginning class from time to time
  7. Strange mania about Earth leads to bad blood
  8. A no-hitter is not in order
  9. Expert turns in because . . .
  10. leftover rice gets mixed with last of cereal
  11. Not in favor of study
  12. Star owns 500-acre area in Africa
  13. Associate with wild bonobo, getting hit for nothing
  14. Father and uncle of Picasso meet in courtyard
  15. Cipher about weapon upset associate
  16. Reported pitch leads to a fly
  17. Cargo coming down without number
  18. Arawak culture has reversal of fortune
  19. One federation colony member is more than enough
  20. Shrewd cop returns with drunk one
  21. Network doesn't begin to make a point
  22. Leaders go after vehicle with a company of travelers
  23. In addition, bird gets bone

© Copyright 2001-2004. John de Cuevas. All rights reserved.