OBSERVER CROSSWORD PUZZLER

ACROSS

1. Walk at a leisurely pace 5. Provoke, as with a dare 10. Hebrew letters after alephs 15. ___ a soul 16. Harbinger of spring 17. Crack, in a way 18. Miss America topper 20. Small ornamental cases 21. Churchill’s “___ Finest Hour” 22. It comes straight from the horse’s mouth 24. It can be inflated or bruised 25. Urbanize 27. Fine dinnerware 29. Ponzi scheme, e.g. 31. Freelancer’s enc. 32. Blemish 35. In conflict with, with “of” 37. Crosswise, on deck 39. Mideast hot spot 41. Part of the verb “to be” 42. Towards the back of a ship 45. Gently protest 46. Mr. Robot from “Mr. Robot,” say 48. Upper pelvic bones 51. Hydromassage facility 52. Undermine 53. Beasts of burden 55. From the top 56. Threw pitches in the bullpen, e.g. 57. Ride the waves 59. Lizard, old-style 60. “__ as I say …” 62. On, as a lamp 64. Santa ___, Calif. 65. Nasty 66. Parting words

DOWN

1. Symbol of industriousness 2. Common street name 3. Highlands hillside 4. Hammerstein’s contribution 5. Farm animal 6. French sponge cake 7. Thirst-quenching sound 8. Hodgepodges 9. Discouraging words 11. It’s genuine in Germany 12. Belief in something bigger than oneself 13. Israeli port 14. More like a spring chicken 19. Eastern pooh-bah 21. Microwave feature 23. ‘50s audiophile’s purchase 25. Item for Scottish Games thrower 26. In the thick of 28. Enjoys a bagel, maybe 30. Chain of connected ideas 33. Mars, to the Greeks 34. Barricade 36. Deficiency 38. Biscotti flavoring 40. Hearty draft 43. Distort, as survey results 44. In ___ of (replacing) 47. “What a relief!” 49. What Leary tripped on 50. Egyptian cobra 52. You and I 53. PM preceder 54. Like hand-me-downs 58. Study of strange sky sightings 61. Collar inserts 63. Capri, for one 64. Sticking point, to Hamlet