CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Girl only a small space away, relatively speaking .... (12)

9. .... and being the closest, relatively speaking (4,2,3)

10. Be apathetic for the most part with a household implement (3)

11. Objector to party line (7)

12. Possess about 50 to divide in two (5)

13. Bustle around making fine distinctions (6)

15. Go without food, the way one might rave about it (6)

18. Change officer after a word of hesitation (5)

20. Dates he swapped for earphones (7)

22. Chimney found in Glasgow slums (3)

23. Elf keeps warm on the cooker perhaps (9)

24. Jockey drawn by an author (5,7)

DOWN

2. License one vehicle to be on the road for hire (7) 3. Quietly left the line in the middle to search for prey (5) 4. Secure, say, a place in Turkey (6)

5. Variety of noughts coming from a rifle (7)

6. Tiger perhaps has large number in the end (5) 7. On one’s behalf making another gift (12) 8. Edges higher, heels make one thus (6,6)

14. Dog that goes from side to side (7)

16. One who takes stock out of range (7)

17. Irrational fear starts to put him off buying important articles (6)

19. I had boy starting to be fearful (5)

21. In the middle of part of exam on geography (5)