The Atlantic Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

“SIXES AND SEVENS”

(with acknowledgments to Zander of The Listener)

This month’s diagram is numbered normally, but clues to words of six or seven letters are grouped separately in haphazard order. Solvers must determine where these answers belong in the diagram, using the other entries as guides. Words entered in the diagram (called “lights”) begin and end at the heavy lines. Answers include two proper names; the first six-letter word (a) is slightly uncommon. Remember that punctuation in the clues may be used deceptively.

ACROSS

1. Man of Bible is a top-grade Catholic (5)

12. Spokes-women of patriotism returned, one by one (5)

13. Former man of God (5)

17. Butterflies that symbolize the unending cosmic cycle? (12)

25.Sick persons I cure bounce back (12)

31. To postpone, turn back clock (5)

32. You might cry over this cartoon—I only show it (5)

35. Model puzzle (5)

DOWN

2. Classify albatross somewhat the wrong way (4)

4. Skeletons of singers we hear (5) 8. Rum, mead, and cheese (4)

10. In manner of speaking, sees spots (5)

25. Miró to Rouault: “Comprehend Turner?” (5)

26. “Rising Rainbows”—piano piece (5)

27. Clip tail off bird (4)

29. It is central to live feature of Jaws (4)

SIXES AND SEVENS

a. Rose around morningtime with branches (6)

b. It’s fair, strange to say (6)

c. Manila’s peculiar game (7)

d. Adoring letter encloses a lock of hair (7)

e. Pose in street with traveling canc (6)

f. Riddles you have to unravel in games (7)

g. Congressman to levitate with recurrence (7)

h. I’m old and I’m in the way (7)

i. About 50 dancing bears with trumpets (6)

j. Flower’s turned on phenomena (7)

k. Pacify star in Taming of the Shrew with speech (7)

l. Liston’s belted in the neck (7)

m. Quickly spinning proton (6)

n. “Wind and Rain”—premiere of movie, performing shortly (7)

o. Lunch meat and salad mix when you don’t finish them (6)

p. Reactor out of control, by God (7)

q. Freak mentors (7)

r. Unfortunately, win Sal and her whole family by marriage (6) (hyphenated)

s. Sells tickets for a lot of crowns (6)

t. About 100 motorcyclists in quarrels (7)

u. Cocktail—one on back of bird (7)

v. Make a gentle change-that’s fine (7)

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 112.

Answers to the October Puzzler, “MASQUERADE BALL”

Across: 1. NLIL ARMSTRONG (Mr. Alien rev. + strong): MOON MULLINS 11. ERIE (hidden) 12. CARDINAL (double def.) 14. TUNNEL (anag.) 15. ELBOW 16. WHISTLER (anag. + w): TWEETTE 18. SO(methi)NG 19. FIRST (first letters) 21. FRANC-IS BACON: PORKY PIG 25. O-BE-Y 28. MAT-UR-ER (mater around our “but [for the] first”) 30. A-LB-UM 33. SP-IRE 34. ATLAS (double def.) 35. EDGE (double def.) 37. FRAGMENTS (anag.) 40. COURTED (true anag. in cod) 41. WADDLE (re-headed saddle) 42. FAME (hidden) 43. WHITE-HEAD: BLONDIE 44. FIN-ALE 45. MI(T)RE 46. SIR FRANCIS DRAKE (anag. ): DONALD DUCK Down: 1. CHECKERS (double def.): MUTT 2. ORNERY (hidden) 3. NINES (double def.) 4. MEET (double def.) 5. LAZE (homophone) 6. IDLE (anag.) 7. NIBS (double def.) 8. MATA HARI (anag.): SNOOPY 9. FAWN (double def.) 10. MARCIANO (anag.): SLUGGO 12. CLIPPER (double def.) 13. RETRO (terra [rists] anag.) 17. FREUD (fraud with “change of heart”): WIZARD OF ID 19. FE(MM)E 20. TH-RIFT 22. YELL (with ow is “cowardly”) 23. NIETZSCHE (anag.): SUPERMAN 24. TREAD-LED 26. BABE RUTH: BATMAN 27. HUSTLERS (anag.) 29. EARL OF SANDWICH (anag.): DAGWOOD 31. BANDIT (homophonic pun) 32. MOS-EYED 36. GUANO (hidden rev.) 38. REBEL (re instead of la on “label”) 39. EDDIC (hidden) 40. CA-FE

The Editors regret the inadvertent omission, in the October Atlantic, of the heavy line above 26 Down, and apologize for the inconvenience to solvers.