The Atlantic Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

ACROSTIC

Letters of due answers, when put in the appropriate squares, will create two separate messages. The letters in many squares (e.g. A4, H11,) are derived from two different clues. The first letters of the clue answers reveal the identity of one of these messages. Solvers are encouraged to shade in the diagram squares not occupied by letters. Answers include three proper nouns. Punctuation may be used deceptively.

The solution to last month’s puzzler appears on page 89.

1. I’ve the potted palm (6) (A4, H3, K12, M4, C8, C13)

2. Tear straw (4) (B3, G13, K3, F3)

3. Dislike a rendering (8) (D9, M11, A7, K11, I9, A2, A13, E10)

4. Hunter has sleeping accommodations in back (6) (M6, 15, F13, C12, H12, K10)

5. Not to be trusted in a state of undress? (9) (K2, E7, G4, L7, J12, C4, B7, D4, C10)

6. Span of magazines (8) (E11, J1, B1, A6, E5, E13, K13, L6)

7. Bridge in some disorder (7) (F7, K4, L12, G2, D1, L11, G8)

8. Ron is in the position of power (6) (B4, I2, A9, M8, A12, L1)

9. Press club humor (5) (J1, A3, L3, L13, B13)

10. Sort of cold and piscine? (6) (H7, A1, M7, K12, F10, F3)

11. Material used in many longjohns (5) (B12, E12, C4, L3, J2)

12. Oregon conservative penning a speech (7) (C1, H11, K8, A4, H12, B9, L2)

13. Standard rail is glaring (8) (L7, H8, F7, A8, M3, C6, E3, I3)

14. Fraternity’s demand (5) (H7, M9, M1, G11, E2)

15. Eccentric broods of young birds (10) (K9, H13, H1, H6, 17, E5, D1, E7, I12, K3)

16. Poem with English farm animals (7) (A10, G7, I5, A8, M13, L12, F12)

17. Flying geese circle out of control (7) (M11, M5, B6, A3, E13, D3, B8)

18. Number for GI they reassigned (6) (L9, B2, M2, H3, G3, I8)

19. Pity a slugger (4) (A5, F11, J12, I11)

20. “Eat and drink,” I advocate (9) (C10, L4, G6, G7, C1, L5, G3, M4, H11)

21. Inch cutter (4) (M10, I6, I1, J13)

22. Extreme hostilities harbored by expresident (7) (M7, E4, B5, I13, K8, C12, M1)

23. Again check the seat of a chair? (8) (K11, B10, C6, L8, M13, I12, K2, H2)

24. Watchful round British maid or butler (9) (E9, G12, F10, C5, C3, D13, C11, M6, I3)

25. Greek character leads small uprising (6) (F13, C2, F2, A2, A12, B13)

26. Monitors abroad will be heard (8) (A13, C8, M12, M3, L10, B11, J13, D4)

27. There’s fault to be found in your saving money (7) (D5, H6, G2, B2, A1, D11, G8)

28. Increase makes film pay off (7) (D9, G10, G6, E11, G4, B1, L2)

29. Victory is within the grasp of no military group (4) (B12, C11, D13, I8)

30. Amphibian running from scientist (6) (E3, A11, K6, H1, D2, J2)

31. Way in through evergreen trees (6) (C9, L13, F2, K1, A11, B11)

32. Pasta and beans (7) (D10, K5, E4, K10, H8, D12, L10)

33. Covered with a spread, say, in bed (8) (G12, H13, B4, H2, G1, M9, E1, I6)

34. Concord folks caught in a hail (9) (I7, B8, B3, F4, D12, F12, L6, D3, D11)

35. Insistent man from Mesopotamia? (6) (G13, L8, M2, B6, F1, D5)

36. Expand the space needed for driving sled dogs? (8) (G10, L4, I9, I2, A9, M8, D2, K13)

Note: The instructions above are for this month’s puzzle only. It is assumed that you know how to decipher clues. For a complete introduction to clue-solving, write to The Atlantic Reprint Department, 8 Arlington Street, Boston, Mass. 02116, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Answers to the November Puzzler,

“LETTER BOXES”

Across. 1. CR(E)ATE 6. METE(O)R 11. MIC(ROB)E 12. N(I)O-BE 14. SH(AMP)OO (map anag.) 15. DE(A)R (rev.) 16. SO-A-R 18. MADE-MO(I)SELLE 19. SAV(e)-ANNA 22. MAOR-I (rev.) 23. PIQUE (double def.) 25. TALKIES (anag.) 28. VAINGLORIOUS (anag.) 31. NAM-E (rev.) 33. TOP-E 34.(t)REMORS-E 35.COAT-I 36.DR-AGO-ON 37. GAM(IN)E 38. E-N-TREE Down. 1. MEDUSA (anag.) 2. CH(IM)E 3. OARS (anag.) 4. RE-A-SON 5. THEME (hidden) 6. BEG-ON{I)-A 7. MIMOSA (anag.) 8. EONS (anag.) 9. B(OUR-R)EE 10. RETA(I)L (rev.) 13. R(EVEN)UE 17. LO(OK-O)UT 20. PAN-ACE-A 21. T-A-BOOED 23. VI(R)A-GO 24. GEM-IN-I 26. LIEDER (homophone) 27. SU(PIN)E 29. LEAR-N 30. SENOR (anag.) 32. EMIT (rev.) 33. SO(O)T