The Puzzler

ZIP CODE

In this puzzle’s diagram the letter O always shares a square with a different letter. Using the Os to circle their companion letters, you may discover the zip code’s location by reading the circled letters column by column from left to right, and from top to bottom within each column. Answers include four proper nouns and an alternate spelling at 19 Down.

The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 136.

ACROSS

1.Address on front of envelope includes zip code (5)

6. Small pinches hurt chief (6)

10. Renee carelessly carries container for sap (8)

11. Georgia pursues aluminum plant (4)

12. Author of volume, farm worker, absorbed by goddess of agriculture (9)

13. Vessels holding a couple of Ravel’s first compositions (8)

15. For fun, put The Thing in charge (6)

16. Said brother’s chicken (5)

18. Yankees run, wearing happy looks (7)

20.The guv inside puts away bundles (7)

23. Stick attached to stick (5)

25.Retrospective is apologetic toward French painter (6)

26. Implements from airline consumed by blaze (8)

27. Class I have aboard steamship goes underwater (9) (hyphenated)

28. Agreeable Riviera resort (4)

29. In debt, tennis star came back (8)

30. These are sharp tenor instruments (6)

31. Get horseshoe out of compulsion to decorate (5)

DOWN

1. Vocally interferes with awards (6)

2. Leap on stage and ask earnestly about children (9)

3. Put back remaining raw material (7)

4. Matched Eliot’s affairs (6)

5. Stay dark and sticky (5)

6. Pot user seized by Nazi police and train workers (7)

7. Chinese city’s political divisions (7)

8. With fire, elevated outside temperature (5)

9. Microwave device found in grandma’s era (5)

14.Police breaking up nerds’ game (9)

17. Run into New England resident and sailor (7)

18. Passes boxing champion in the ring with athletes (7)

19. Choke, with opening full of tripe (7)

21. Stopped in drive to educate (6)

22. Taking number, help office workers (6)

23. Make stupid wager, winning consequently (5)

24. Instant cereal with last of fruit topping (5)

25. Understand, for example, about doubled velocity (5)

NOTE: The instructions above are for this month’s puzzle only. It is assumed that you know how to decipher clues, hot a complete introduction to due-solving, send an addressed, stamped envelope to The Atlantic Puzzler, 745 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.

Answers to the September Puzzler

“TWISTING ROUTE”

Starting with the D of TORNADO, the route spells out Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion, ending in Kansas.

Across. 1. ES(C)ROW (worse rev.) 5. TING(L)E 10.TR(EEN)AIL(nee rev.) 11. W-OOL (rev.) 12. HARAS-S(Sarah rev.) 13. DIP-OLE 15. CESIUM (anag.) 16. CO(A-ST)AL 17. MAR-LA (Ram rev.) 19. TRIO (t moved in riot) 22. N-EON 23. T(ALL)OW 25. RETO(R)T 27. FR-EDDY 28. A(U)-RALLY 31. AT HEIST 32. DOCKETS (anag.) 33. D-OILY 34. OR(N)ATEDown. 1. E-THIC(k) 2. CERTAINTY (anag.) 3. ON(S)E-T 4. W(ASS)AIL 5. TI-DIL-Y (rev.) 6. ILIUM (double def.) 7. GOO-DREAD 8. L-O-L-L 9. EL-EGANT (agent anag.) 14. TOR(MEN)-TOR 18. LORDLY (anag.) 19. TORN-A-DO 20. HARRIET (anag.) 21. CO-R-RID-A 23. TOPE-K-A 24. WE(A)P-ON(no pew rev.) 26. TASTE (anag.) 29. LE(I)S 30. YA(Y)S (say rev.)