The Atlantic Puzzler

by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

DECIPHERMENT

Clue answers when deciphered enter the grid as “lights.” The first letters of Across answers, taken in order, spell out a relevant phrase (from a certain song) and the volume in which the phrase is found. Answers include two proper nouns and a slightly uncommon word (25A). Punctuation in the clues may be used deceptively.

ACROSS

2. Goods brought in to some cities I’m starting

6. Everybody spin around to pass out

10. The first day quickly brings rain

11. Sleepy bats: none molts

12. Line familiar to a weatherman gets more confused with this

14. Flatfoot has left with the sound of a horse’s walk

17. Rocket on Enceladus filled with chemical compound

18. Swollen as a horn that’s been played too much?

19. Makes up grades

22. Unsound incentives for rail travel

24. Breakfast with egg, hash, tamale

25. “Flying Ant”—volume at the fore

31. Abstract treatment of pie, in my opinion

34. Barefoot to no avail?

35. Deepest within monist, perhaps

36. Part of steam engine starting to blow on fuel ship

37. Exercises and reduces, you say

38. Messengers bring Victory in: yes/no/possibly

DOWN

1. Something funny in Iosco, Michigan

2.Ten lions behaving rudely?

3. Superlatively witty saying about saphead

4. Flower came up

5. Cat or catfight in the near future

6. A sad Noel without any company

7. A speaker, Celt or otherwise

8. Bird circling North Dakota city

9. Blows a horn made from tool set

13. Bullet in puncture makes you lame

15. The first precise circle

16. Include us while stirring hot coal for a big fire

17. Think nothing about Granny, e.g.

19. I’m from “South Pacific” and I will be seen in flick, in love

20. Submariner coming up with foreboding

21. Slyly rob pail from cook

23. Badgers providing the top of mink stoles perhaps

26. “A-ring-a-ring” out in the ocean

27. Listen to “Bills”—barbershop singers

28. Rock notes?

29. British weavers with flowers

30. Posse flips coins

32. Feel searchingly in soft clothing

33. Bucks—there’s one inside belonging to me

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 the opposite page.

Answers to the October Puzzler, “OCTAVES”

Unclued lights are the names of avenues on a Monopoly board, one from each of the eight different colors: Baltic, Oriental, States, Tennessee, Indiana, Atlantic, Pacific, and Park (though not an avenue, it has its “place” with the others).

Across. 1. PINE-AP (P[ee]L)E 9. ANON (double def.) 11. RUSTIC (its in cur rev.) 12. ANTLER (anag.) 14. KN-EES (see rev.) 16. DO-RE 17. FELL (double def.) 19. BARS (double def.) 20. SIC (double def.) 22. AT-TIC 23. STICK (double def.) 25. CAR (anag.) 27. SIGH(t) 28. HE’LL (double def.) 30. ETCH (hidden) 31. DEN(0)TED 34. CASTE (homophone of cast) 37. INTUIT (anag.) 38. RETAIL (i in later rev.) 39. A’(VAIL)S 40. ENDS (double def.) Down. 2. I-NUN-DATE 3. NOSE (a nasal homophone of does) 4. (c)ENTERS 5. ARI(S)ES 6. LA(N)D 7. MIEN (homophone of mean) 8. SCRATCH-Y 10. BANE (anag.) 13. TILT (double def.) 15. OBSIDIAN (anag.) 18. HIGH TIDE (homophone of hi tied) 21. CA(LDRO)N (lord anag.) 24. CHOU (anag.) 26. (p)RECEDE 29. LETS (double def.) 32. E-N(a)VY 33. TI(L)E 35. SANS (double def.) 36. ELSE (the odd letters of enlistee)