CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Fastener held on by a thread (5) 4 The jam-making trade? (7) 8 Possibly from China, it normally comes from Italy (7)

9 Very fitting description of a drunkard (5)

10 In the morning he gives a slight cough (4) 11 It means quite a lot - to cardplayers especially! (4,4) 13 A reversible

action (4)

14 Let it stand a

different test (4) 16 Put out nine cats,

for example (8) 17 Central feature of

a nasty eye (4) 20 Strong meat? (5) 21 Annoyed with stinging words? (7)

22 Answers for the

chemists (7)

23 River or giver (5)

DOWN

1 Gregarious mountaineer anxious to get on in the world? (6,7) 2 Rear lights, by the sound of it (5) 3 Western worker’s need (4)

4 He suits his CRYPTIC customers (6) 5 It may be taken as a countermeasure (8) 6 Men held by a strange gift of imagination perhaps (7) 7 The stock market depends on what he raises (6,7)

12 Payment made for an old servant? (8)

13 Far from

friendly? (7)

15 They’re just part

of the act (6)

18 It is in fact a long

claw (5)

19 Boss offering stable employment? (4)