30-MINUTE CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

3 Decides not to go on

producing burnt sack (5, 4) 8 Almost drain a pitcher (4) 9 Thinks time and dates are

wrong (9) 10 His instruction is brief (6) 11 Cut from the wedding cake (5) 14 Finishing off a cake? (5) 15 Fail to keep up a legend (4) 16 One of a crowd of actors — no

less! (5) 18 Sound reflection (4) 20 Compare fifty-one with

knowledge (5) 21 It may be pledged to a future

partner (5) 24 Two companies joining to

gether on a silk product (6) 25 Act as a dismantler? (4, 5) 26 It’s employed in various

editions (4) 27 Ban a professional writer (9)

DOWN

1 Canned — as sardines are! (4

5) 2 By which the fisherman’s

catch is measured? (3,6) 4 Employer states with

hesitation (4) 5 Presumably there’s a sound

reason for it (5) 6 They cut dashing figures (6) 7 The character to fix the pitch

(4) 9 Get involved in someone

else’s business? (5) 11 Something wrong with a knot?

(5) 12 Is it never found in light

cavalry? (4, 5) 13 Hostile fire one can and does

get involved in (9) 17 A tax return to distribute (5) 19 Holy commands? (6) 22 He often lifts his glass to each

(5) 23 Soft melody for two (4) 24 Some credit goes to a sailor

for providing sea-food (4)