BARE BONES
Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have to complete the grid – numbers and squares – as well. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a four-way symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away. There is a prize of a Collins Pocket Thesaurus. Send your solution to: Bare Bones Puzzle No.552, The Irish Mail on Sunday, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Entries must arrive by Friday (photocopies not accepted). The winner of Bare Bones No. 551 is Geraldine Feehan, from Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Across
7 Courteous and quiet, old student wore tie 8 Fall over often in front of drier 11 Bring me back a couple to hug 12 A dope is worried about getting fatty 13 Clowns get depressed deep inside 15 Be prolific in squad, we hear 16 Reported total or just a part of it 18 Flier leaves drink unfinished 21 Clothing takes a great deal of time? Nonsense 22 Brave Virginia takes on Latin translation 23 Have a strong desire for a steeple 24 Swap a few coins
Down
1 Drink, angry at instance of betrayal (Two words, hyphenated) 2 Frenchman broke nail in Italian city 3 Take pleasure in seeing film about five 4 Good man not prepared for the tube 5 Opening move, removing front of range 6 Citrus fruit gives family zero scope (Two words) 9 I leave after French colour produces giddiness 10 Unworthy of fellow to display hate 14 Now employers have to be obliged 17 First murderer has key to a room 18 Wager queen will come in to get a hat 19 Forcibly remove from the Victory 20 Farm animal catches large crow