TWO-SPEED CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Raider, with alarm, ruffled

naval officer (4,7) 9 Pleasant times for power

in America (3) 10 Romanians struggling in

this republic (3,6) 11 Gifted boy in marquee with

journalist (8) 12 Party-giver wants lots of

people (4) 14 Rifle about to acquire bit of

gold? (6) 16 Inn where clergyman

comes over in brown (6) 18 Odd number won’t start to

be just the opposite! (4) 19 Birds in the islands (8) 22 Eager aunt arranged

security (9) 23 Cut in faxes (3) 24 Paper orator produced for

airborne soldier (11)

DOWN

2 Rest left to support a

blackboard (5) 3 Showed annoyance, being

despatched in a rush (8) 4 Peril of garden makeover!

(6) 5 I managed country (4) 6 “Fatty tissue?” said Poe,

confused (7) 7 Forefront of knife? (7,4) 8 Playing snooker, she had to find building in garden (7, 4) 13 Jack has a drink, one knocked back with pepper (8) 15 A danger is averted in

Caribbean island (7) 17 Right behind roof timber

(6) 20 I’m on time for picture (5) 21 Among Icelanders, a

gallant story (4)

COFFEE TIME

ACROSS

1 High post in the navy (4,7) 9 High points in your life (3) 10 Small Italian republic (3,6) 11 Able, gifted (8) 12 Party-giver (4) 14 Lump of gold (6) 16 Hostelry (6) 18 All square (4) 19 Yellow birds (8) 22 Assurance (9) 23 Chop (3) 24 Airborne soldier (11)

DOWN

2 Picture stand (5) 3 Begrudged (8) 4 Hazard (6) 5 Modern Persia (4) 6 Fatty (tissue) (7) 7 Innovative (7,4) 8 Gardener’s storage place

(7, 4) 13 Hot pepper (8) 15 Caribbean island (7) 17 Ceiling beam (6) 20 Effigy (5) 21 Epic story (4)