OBSERVER CROSSWORD PUZZLER

ACROSS

1. Soft mineral 5. Top 11. Bitter 16. Litigant 17. “Hooray!” 18. Nary a soul 19. Tall story? 21. Fragrant oil 22. Persian Gulf emirate 23. “Semiramide” composer 25. Elevator man 27. Stallion, once 28. Pakistani coin 30. Somewhat 32. Day ___ 35. Bridge site 37. Canine cry 38. Asian wild sheep 41. Floral ring 43. Spurs on 47. Burrowing marine animal 49. Inventive 51. Coronet 52. “M*A*S*H” setting 53. Weighed, for shipping purposes 54. Rule of evidence 56. Pouring 58. More bass 59. Morse bit 61. Excite 62. Viva-voce 64. Flightless birds 66. “Send help!” 67. Gallup, e.g. 71. Extract 74. Wrinkly fruit 75. Give off, as light 77. Sparkle 81. ___ apso (dog) 83. Egg producer 85. Anklebones 86. Squares 87. Katmandu native 89. Acquire 90. #1 song 91. Lit 92. Gull-like bird

DOWN

1. Ivan the Terrible, e.g. 2. Not manual 3. “___ go!” 4. To the point 5. Near 6. Be a go-between 7. Choose 8. ___ no good 9. Reservations 10. Spookily 11. “Go on...” 12. Tube addict 13. Automaton 14. As a whole 15. Pan, e.g. 20. Cloak-and-dagger org. 24. Nothing 26. Circumvent 29. In sum 31. Bad winner 32. Put (away) 33. Commendation 34. Paternal relative 36. Yours truly 39. Citadels 40. Jumpers 42. Skating gig 44. Binary star 45. Be that as it may 46. Marsh plants 48. Barely make, with “out” 50. “Go team!” 55. Chatter 57. Artist’s stand 60. Morning, for short 63. Duds 65. Like some socks 67. Withdraws 68. Runic character 69. Andean animal 70. Fix firmly 72. Be in session 73. Autocrats 76. Bind 78. Arduous journey 79. Biblical twin 80. Asian palm 82. Blond shade 84. Crude 88. Ego counterpart