The Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Zip Code

Whenever an O occurs in a clue answer, it fails to match the letter of the crossing word with which it shares a diagram square. Use each O to circle the other letter in such a square, and you’ll spell out (reading left to right, column by column) an actual U.S. location particularly deserving of a zip code. Answers include four proper nouns.

See page 128 for Puzzler contest details. The solution to last month’sPuzzler appears on page 125.

Across

1. Zip code (6)

7. VIP sent back a stench stopper? (5)

11. Garland, beyond learning, is a deadly singer (7)

12. Searches for words in margins (4)

13. Jot half the alphabet? (4)

14. Wild speeches published by Eliot (5)

15. NYC underground put in your number (6)

16. College in Dublin: try getting into it (7)

17. Extra artist’s first error in 3-D? (5)

19. Men sorting out old typewriters (10)

22. Obstinate cook again embraces thespian (10)

24. Somebody snooping right into waterfront area (5)

25. When locked inside a trunk, I will get most uncomfortable (7)

28. Senior citizens’ flower-bearing shrubs (6)

29. Covers the sound of low-lying areas (5)

30. Test from the morning (4)

31. Small sprite’s ego (4)

32. Erase around “p” in “empty” (7) 33. Deal with odd characters in Terre Haute (5)

34. Stops framing Secret Service with insults (6)

Down

1. Couple of clowns likely to talk nonsense (8)

2. Plant in season, after the first (5)

3. Pack’s lead runner returned for event(6)

4. After hesitating at first, call up a guy with some muscle (5) (hyphencited )

5. Clergyman owning a power generator (7)

6. Hold firmly onto horse (5)

7. Birds (so what?) perched atop roofing materials (10)

8. Forest animals with 500 whiskers? (6)

9. Medical group befuddled true novice (7)

10. Skinny kid eating last of popcorn (4) 14. Data found in most thinly distributed woods (10) (two words)

18. Rock steady. I’m for light occasions? (8)

20. Prior more like a nobleman? (7)

21. Horse’s equipment was first seized (7)

22. Pierce’s puzzle (6)

24. Persian king raised risqué topic with Roman king (6)

25. Assistant outside of school is out of the way (5)

26. Many a celebrity wastes time in the audience (5)

27. Engineer tapes a flood (5)

28. Drive out of a block in Houston (4)

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 long envelope to The Atlantic Puzzler, 745 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.

ANSWERS TO THE FEBRUARY PUZZLER

“Cryptic Personals”

Across answers are given in the order in which their clues appear. Across. E-M(M)A; BEE-R; ST(AND)OUT; PEN-CHANTS; ROMANCE (anag.); A-MUSE-R: SADE (hidden); CLA(I)M; KIS SABLE (ski anag.): W-IN-G: ABSTAINER (anag. + l); SHORT (hidden): BACHELOR (role rev.); ANATHEMAS (anag.); TRY-STING; A-VA-TAR; P(A-RAKE) ETS; NEEDING (homophone) Down. I. ENCAMP (anag.) 2. M-ELBA 3. M(ak)E-A-stiRE 4. AD(IT)S 5. IN-CITE (homophone) 6. S(EVENT)H 7. AWARD’S 8. BITE (homophone I of bight) 9. (r)EGRETS 10. A-DUL(l)-T A-L-(A)RM 12. KEENE ST 13. ANEMONE (hidden rev.) 14. OB-LAST 15. PHASES (homophone) 16. COT-TON 17. S(IS)TER(n)

18. R(EH)AB (rev.) 19. FAR(C)E 20. J(U)D-Y