The Atlantic Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

CARTE BLANCHE

(Acknowledgments to Ximenes of The Observer)

As an added challenge, we leave solvers to determine where the bars belong in this month’s puzzle. The diagram’s symmetry is such that it would look the same if turned upside down, but not if given a quarter-turn. Clues are listed in their proper order and are lettered for convenience only. Answers include three proper nouns and an uncommon word (at g. among the Downs). Punctuation may be used deceptively.

The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 105.

ACROSS

a. Having no bars is wearisome

b. Watch a magazine article?

c. Enlarge a hole in a number of sheets

d. Crazy person outside North Dakota city

e. Sight in Athens—harvest being put in a bin the wrong way

f. Thwart made of wood entirely

g. Quarrels with footwear

h. Sportsman gets a rest after game

i. Guy keeping gun in clothing

j. Gardens reeling with geese

k. Butt right into tree

l. Meat entrée includes broken bread

m. Indian has been upset about storms

n. You could make Tess learn vigilance

o. One hiding in church halls from armed forces

p. Suitable contest

q. Around ground, reeds splattered and smeared

r. Hurry briefly after the cheese

DOWN

a. Pulls up sod

b. Racehorse brought north for review

c. Wheeled vehicle overturned in lot

d. I’m set to get in the way

e. Docking a boat in low sound

f. Hawaiian food—boy, it can make you sick

g. Stage in an insect’s life that causes terrible strain

h. Miner’s dog: “Little Red”

i. Very numerous new lenses—about 500

j. Everyone getting in darling’s bed

k. Passionate study in painting

l. Primates sobbing hysterically

m. Top-grade doctors at first learn wrongly about some glands

n. Tailor, at times, uses candle with hesitation

o. Get back, e.g., in shower

p. Ascended like fish

q. Honest letter exposes press intimately

r. Lease out art equipment

s. A street in New York that’s not very nice

t. Social group with loud complaint

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 March Puzzler, “ONE-ARMED BANDIT”

Across. a. STAB (rev.); FORTUITY (anag.) b. TRIO (anag.); IMP-ROPER C. DESALINATION (anag.) d. RO(g)UE; ESAU (anag.); MEAD (anag.) e. sharpsHOOTER f. R(EPOS)ING (Poe’s anag.); SOFA (hidden) g. P(RED)ET-ERMINE h. M(ILL)INER; SEAL (double def., pun) i. E(QUEST)RIE-N-N-E j. STUD (double def.); ESSE (anag.); SUE’S Down. 1. S(IDLE)S 2. APSE (hidden) 3. BRAV([f]UR)A 4. O(PINE)-S 5. RENT (double def.) 6. TRAP(DOOR)S (rood rev.) 7. (c)UTTER 8. IRIS (double def.) 9. YONDER (anag.) 10. ASH-ORE 11. I(M)PRECISE (anag. + m) 12. DUE-NNA (Ann rev.) 13. O’S-MOSES 14. SPUMES (anag.) 15. PETERS (anag.) 16. GEL-LED (leg anag.) 17. DO-LES(S) 18. SLUE (double def.) 19. ANTS (anag.) 20. LENT (double def.)