The Atlantic Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

TORN CLUES

(Acknowledgments to The Listener and Richard Maltby, Jr.)

Before this puzzle reached the printer it was victimized by gremlins, who tore each clue in half to separate the definition from the subsidiary part (anagram, homophone, etc.). Halves were then mismatched, leaving only one half of each clue at its proper number (it may be either half). Answers include three proper nouns. Remember that punctuation may be used deceptively.

ACROSS

1. “Torn Clues”—I do not like (6)

5. Italian river bugs move stealthily (6)

10. Assuage the eternal spirit of youth (5,3)

11. Whisper, “God” (4)

12. Sing a number: “Left with a Broken Heart” (6)

13. Church in a reconstructed manger (5)

14. Dim, winding street (6)

16. Rests are rudely disrupted (4)

19. Bad-smelling drunk—not I (5)

21. Ship holding wood pieces for chair backs (8)

24. Fools curse foolish Quest (8)

26. Runs in Aqueduct (5)

28. Bullets in zones of conflict (4)

31. Strange result in surgery (6)

34. He cooks ears of corn (5)

35. Orally instructed Wagner, for one (6)

36. Say something (4)

37. Beat a rug, take time off (5,3)

38. One-time verse form (6)

39. Right in Fountains Circle—oil rising (6)

DOWN

1. Bad smells left in gaiters (6)

2. Slender antelopes (4)

3. Pure froth (5)

4. Say, “Lazy jerk” (5)

5. Big bird flying past circling gull (8)

6. Tse-tse flies in concert (4)

7. Garbage—I do its recycling (6)

8. Poles parting company with Poles (4)

9. Find me in the Orient (Eastern countries) (6)

14. Congressman faced upcoming law (6)

15. Sound of hill’s decline (6)

17. Hodgepodge feasts (4)

18. Again aver, “I’m pooped” (8)

20. I’m conducting experiments inside (4)

22. Bail is set for prisoners (6)

23. Half grid iron football formation first showing cleats (6)

25. Some moist inkstain designs (6)

27. Britain’s first king making apologies (5)

29. Mortal disciple comes before God (5)

30. Tip top piece—Beethoven’s Third (4)

32. Break apart egg (4)

33. Sleeps tight (4)

Note: The instructions above are the special instructions for this month’s puzzle. It is assumed that you know how to decipher clues. For a complete introduction to clue-solving, write to The Atlantic Reprint Department, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 102.

Answers to the August Puzzler, “BACK TO BACK”

The word chain is: back-hand-cart-wheel-chair-man-handle-bar-bellpull-over-come-back.

Across. 1. SLOUGH (double def.) 9. PEON (anag.) 10. LAMIA (hidden) 11. FUN(k) 13. COR(on)ER 14. O-READ 15. DEN (hidden) 17. T-ROUBLE 18. PAR-IS 20. EXUL(T)ED (deluxe rev.) 21. JOSTLED (anag.) 27. DEL(P)HI-C 28. HE-AD 29. ORC (hidden rev.) 31. GRAVE (double def.) 33. AID-A 34. REAL-M 35. TEEM (meet rev.) 36. SNIT (tins rev.) 37. SEE-SAW Down. 2. LEA-R 3. (s)UNDA(UNT)E-D (nut anag.) 4. G-LAD 5. EMCEE (hidden, alternate letters) 6. LION (hidden) 7. CUR-R(I)ED 8. KNITS (stink rev.) 9. PHOTO (anag.) 11. FEAR 12. NEON (anag.) 16. CALIPHATE (anag.) 19. MOHEGAN (hidden rev.) 22. DE(C)ALS 23. THAI (homophone of tie) 24. S-C-RAM 25. WHI(M)S (anag. + m) 26. EARN (anag.) 27. D-REAM 30. IDEA (anag.) 32. ART (anag.)