The Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

GOING TOO FAR

(Acknowledgments to Mike Shenk)

Some clue answers in this puzzle are one or two letters too long to fit in their normally allotted spaces. These words “go too far” by extending a letter at the beginning and/or end into one of the heavy-barred boxes. Each box will be used just once in this way. When the puzzle is complete, the boxed letters, reading from left to right and top to bottom, will spell a phrase pertaining to excessive behavior. Answers include five proper nouns.

The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 103.

_ACROSS_

1. Flimsy item with no back

4. Catching cold, I give up vehicle

9. Scene from ending of Man in Spare

10. Cad with an idea for beating

11. Hurt a shoe with a strap, not finishing race

13. Wagons endure distress when put in reverse

14. Excessive hint about center of Rome (two words)

15. Nothing particular in reserve (two words)

17. Seeing base hit acquired by character at start of game

19. In a way, intimidate swimming sea trout

21. Bring up reinforcements for company in project

23. Big Fifty are given $1,000

26. Score outside of Greek statue by heat

29. Poor Al’s fed up—can you dig it?

31. Without initially speaking, answer

33. Get spoiled, like a mountain lake?

35. Provided Indians with primary education (two words)

36. Youngster taking timid types back to a certain point?

37. Weaken bar in part of nuclear reactor

38. Latin adopted by church halls and centers

39. Before end of chapter, novelist becomes less frivolous

40. Back in Nicaragua, Mister Day gives a boring speech

DOWN

1. Peg takes shower with apprentice

2. Noble man crowns king of France with piece of cake

3. International group in caution, losing the odds

4. Simple man comes up with firstrate women sharing a name

5. Jeer about hot receptacle for various items

6. Average competitor upset about excellent keyboard

7. Scale beast up

8. In the middle of Queens, ignore officer

9. Ambassador within disapproves of grasses

12. Mob emcee

16. Filled with love, student sounded amorous

18. Carriers go off course, first to last

20. Irrationality could make a nose run

22. Gamble involying Republican makes you sore

24. Part of a ship taking unsatisfactory direction in storm

25. Stands while surrounded by fish

27. West Coast city submerged in wash

28. Girl’s name in the Spanish story

29. Jellies like films

30. Hole filled with no wine

32. Those who serve me in rural setting

34. Prize old mark

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, send an addressed, stamped envelope to The Atlantic Puzzler, 745 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.

Answers to the June Puzzler

“MYSTERY THEATER”

Across. 3. WEIR(d) 5.J(ET’S)AM 6. S(TART)LING 8. HOW(L)S 9. DARE (anag.) ll.BR(ACE)R 12. DE-LUGE (pun) 13.S-CAN 17. F(R)OG 19. A(THE)NA 20. BE(R)G 21. SITE (homoph.) 24. ETHNIC (anag.) 27.TH-ROBS 29.C(HE)AT’S 30. BE-AG(L)E 31. PAN(OR)AMA 32. RI-PSAW (WASP rev.) 33. NO(I)SES Down. (art rev.) 2. D(ISL)ODGE 3. W-EASEL 4. R(A)IDER 6.S-WA(IN)S 7. GRU-FF (rug anag.) 8. O RATED 10. REGRETS (hidden rev.) 14. C(ABLE-C-A)R 15. MA-GENT-AS 16. PAST-RAM-I 18. O-VERSE(A)S 22. CHAP (double def.) 23.TO-GA 25. THAI (homoph.) 26. C(ROW)D 27.STERN (double def.) 28. BLUE (homoph.)