CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Something that is naturally hard to play for a dance (8) 5. Weapon involving risk (4) 9. End period (4) 10. Compromise and put a stop to bad temper (8) 11. Presents one’s natural talents (5) 12. The easiest dance to learn? (3-4) 13. Terrible condition bad wiring is in? (8,5) 18. Skill shown when skill is added to effort (8) 19. Shut up and write a letter (4) 20. Go on! Take legal action! (7) 21. Not much can be seen in the street (5) 22. He ruled in one Roman Era (4) 23. Uneasy when lacking support (8)

DOWN

2. Bird with no head for danger? (7) 3. Relatively favourable (7) 4. Two card-games one may come across (7,6) 6. A wet race-meeting (7) 7. Weight on one’s conscience? (7) 8. Pet shows anxiety when on a ship (6) 13. Give some point to something (7) 14. Open exit (7) 15. Lot of Arabs (6) 16. Current optical disorder (7) 17. Number of workers that pay rent (7)