CRYP TIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Skilled arrangement

of melodic chaps (12) 8 Rampant suitor upset

catching zip (7) 9 One of actors is co-star (7) 11 Rubbish from house cut,

impressing wife (7) 12 Mess dug out producing

dirty marks (7) 13 Dalliances and trysts embracing

sweetheart initially (5) 14 Berserk gang’s oddly steady (9) 16 Night-time criminal backing

circle with Capone (9) 19 Weapon drunk grabs with

ecstasy — not good (5) 21 This compiler’s power

to face every charge (7) 23 Most immature through

reversing in retreat (7) 24 Poles accepting need

before European flag (7) 25 Pensioner seen as

cold, stern at heart (7) 26 Queen in harder seat

moving base (12)

DOWN

1 Surrounded by stress,

welcoming doctor (7) 2 Church uttered singular

psalms (7) 3 Skip and arise half-heartedly, getting twisted (9) 4 Jumps end of hurdle

in circuits (5) 5 Bronze, perhaps, is

about right size (7) 6 Nettles, green as

could be? (7) 7 Canine training? (12) 10 Motorway’s approach over Yorkshire river leads to accident (12) 15 Odds on usurer heard to show richness (9) 17 Sweetheart in America giving copper a peck, foolishly (7) 18 Spontaneous, like king in nude, flashing (7) 19 Vertebrae containing ends of dorsal rod (7) 20 Gasps, about to get in public swimming pool (7) 22 One believes in Ganesh, indubitably (5)