The Brain Teaser

ACROSS

1. Strike in a brewery (6)

5. Writes a letter so hurriedly one doesn't put in the dots? (6)

8. The only person on the A fifty-one? (5)

9. Catching he-cats (wild) in a bag (6)

10. Returning to let one know if there's good meat (6)

11. She'll put one in the shade (5)

14. So called because they keep cat-burglars from walking off with things? (8)

16. The speech is long and, anyhow, it gets badly read (6)

18. Well away! (3,2,1,4,5)

20. He left here with money? That's new! (6)

22. I take the minor roads, myself, on the outskirts of Italy (8)

25. Character responsible for the retreat of a thousand soldiers (5)

27. In the jars outside, one indicates (6)

28. Possibly a minor accusation (6)

29. The old doctor is a companion to Peggy (5)

30. Admit the river will engulf and obliterate it (6)

31. Go wrong, as well, with the commission (6)

DOWN

1. Prepare to put back in the hamper, but leave on the beach (4,2)

2. That's the stuff! Make the coffee an Irish one! (4)

3. Trap I set, with KGB's rivals, for a girl (8)

4. The lucky drawer! (9,6)

5. Abandon a cause with which there's something wrong? (6)

6. Part of the ship that's leaking, by the sound of it (4)

7. Seat for the one whose hair's being done? (6)

12. To toady, say “It's better after the rolling”? (7)

13. To cook, it doesn't mean “grill”! (7)

15. A strange existence for a man (5)

17. What one rushes off to play? (5)

19. That pain someone who's an awful bore gives one? (4,4)

20. Said angrily, “The silly sap is in debt” (6)

21. Foolishly, lets America join in the struggle (6)

23. Stretch from the beginning of time to the end (6)

24. Is going to leave (4)

26. She got dad to leave the pair with mum (4)