The Brain Teaser

ACROSS

1. Cheered up when one had sold out (7)

5. Tell you again to have the balance put away (7)

9. Speak at the opening: give a lecture to (5)

10. Like the nag in the song the man was after (9)

11. A novice in the ranks of the building workers (6)

12. Waving, greet the girl entering: a young person (8)

14. It's half the battle getting it into the deed (5)

15. Did he steal, with the head covered, from the forest? (5,4)

18. Continues to get the papers one's ordered (7,2)

20. She could be about fifty-one: Italian (5)

22. Under contract, perhaps, to diet, went off dispirited (4,4)

24. To make it fairer, return a pound apiece (6)

26. Hints, at the local, Sue and Don will run off together (9)

27. For a royal, order a bouquet (5)

28. Was back to front as one had prognosticated (7)

29. Not embarrassed when a few are found in the water (7)

DOWN

1. “Baseball player,” comma (5-4)

2. The tract of land, felt should be ploughed (7)

3. In happy days, the man is gloomy (9)

4. Prints of fish (4)

5. Performers at the prison concert? (6,4)

6. Mark is the man who captured one (5)

7. A brisk figure, the gaoler, patrolling outside (7)

8. What Juan and Fritz called the tree? (5)

13. Did she turf out her husband? (5,5)

16. Al is in the vast majority (6,3)

17. To spin, are winding the thread round it, love (4,5)

19. She'll have jellied eel and Nora stew (7)

21. Putted successfully, or having trouble (2,1,4)

22. The fellow I imprisoned is a burglar (5)

23. Line up, in the wardrobe (5)

25. What, in spring, the sun showed up, in the grass (4)