CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

9 Sure by noon I’d gone out, but is wrong (2,2,5)

10 Because nothing can change the tally (2,7)

12 Who boarded the tramp in it? (4)

13 Takes off the narrow pieces (6) 14 The name on the collar says “Scamp” (7)

15 Covering the female with a what’s-it (9)

17 Get rid of - sling out - the stodgy food (9)

18 Birds that are given to canoodling on the quiet? (7)

19 Arrive and, reversing, put the runabout inside (4,2)

20 Weapon that is, for the record, two-pointed (4)

23 Started to cry when the engine conked out? (5,4)

25 In the amended text, the wanderer is a sociable type (9)

26 On the house that’s vacant (4)

27 Will become hard to get a stand seat (6)

29 Told to accommodate the former communist (7)

32 That’s no phoney earthling silly! (4,5)

34 Not what’s usually done on leaving (9)

35 What’s Hornblower doing in the suburbs? (7)

36 It’s very sad. The vehicle overturned trapping the soldier (6)

37 Without Leslie’s (4)

38 Make into a drawer (9)

39 Going off, is rounding the bend (2,3,4)

DOWN

1 Pale, given a drink looks far more cheerful (6,2) 2 Still finding you can’t arouse pity in (6,2,4)

3 Why the outsider never gets a look in (8)

4 On the way round to get the pearls (6)

5 Think drink has the foolish son in its clutches (8)

6 Quite a lot, but not so much it’s dishonest? (4,6)

7 Fight Les, struggling to get a blow in (7)

8 To be in really good form, after midnight’s advisable (2,4,4)

11 Putting one over on the syndicate (5)

16 Having rows, draw the shade (6)

19 Catch up in an hour (3)

21 Like the ornament that has a function? (6,6)

22 Does it trundle up the beach? (6)

23 On the previous occasion, got it back to me early (6,4)

24 The first indication that one likes a lot (7,3)

25 I said to keep it under observation (3)

28 Go back in to tie one to the other (8)

29 Puts a new coat on: The material, satin, is unusual? (8)

30 Not yet ready for breakfast? The sauce! (8)

31 The beater who’s refusing to work? (7)

33 Not a short way of saying “with one” (5)

34 Tease the fellow about being an object of terror (6)