SUPERQUICK CROSSWORD 973

Entries must reach Contest Editor Top of the Times PO Box 11, Cape Town 8000 or e-mail tott@inl.co.za by midday on Wednesday. The first correct entry drawn wins R100, the next three R50 each. Winners are announced next week.

ACROSS

1 “Darn”! when the forecast said Christmas wouldn’t be white? (4,9) 8 Is this island a must, in its own way, to a painter? (7)

9 Eggs one crushes (7)

11 Truly antique (6)

13 Sell out gallery, which results in a feud (8)

15 A reminder, it is felt (5)

16 Resolved to be nice to a dud when persuaded to (7)

18 Will it suit any room it’s put into? (7)

19 What is a capital score for a golfer? (5)

21 He appraises, like a chump, the wrong roses (8)

23 The cask left Turin by car for an Adriatic port (6)

25 Will it again, in time, be part of Africa? (7)

26 Where you’ll find many legal terms, to be concise (2,5)

28 Shot in the head (6,7)

DOWN

2 Drink half, about, on return, when shut in (7) 3 A man made up as a woman (3) 4 Photograph Crossman (1-3)

5 They won’t listen to a word you say! (3-7) 6 Not a duck river! (5)

7 Called and is invited (7)

8 Being economical despite one’s faults? (6,5) 10 Formal because afraid to be otherwise? (6,5)

12 Not a wild eagle I found in Belgium (5)

14 To start with, it’s for demolition in the autumn (5,2,3) 17 Back from their package deal holiday resort (5) 18 Notwithstanding scattered seed around the hole (7) 20 The soldier and I check back with the Prince (7) 22 The fish row he abandoned her in (5)

24 Whether she’ll double up (4)

27 A boring extract (3)

Across: 1 Timepiece. 8 Vanessa. 9 Ringlet. 10 Rarebit. 13 Encircle. 14 Ebon. 16 Tread water. 20 Teal. 22 Rose. 24 Midas touch. 28 Crab. 29 Headrest. 31 Threats. 34 Inverse. 35 Matelot. 36 Scratched

Down: 1 Torrent. 2 Manacle. 3 Paler. 4 Estella. 5 Ever. 6 Here. 7 Partial. 11 Averts. 12 Bone. 15 Otto. 17 Rio. 18 Aver. 19 Wombat. 21 Arc. 22 Ragtime. 23 Scar. 25 Atelier. 26 Unearth. 27 Hothead. 30 Divot. 32 Ewer. 33 Sets.