The Brain Teaser

No. 8,691

ACROSS

1. The naturalist would give the answer ‘larch', I'd worked out (7,6)

8. No high-speed train service, but it certainly has its points (7)

9. Superior types helping the bookies to make a living (7)

11. Take away the sailor by tube (6)

13. Where the pies are locked away? (8)

15. Asians featuring in the story of Miss Muffet, do we hear? (5)

16. The tattered cuffs I mended at one point will be adequate (7)

18. Liquor-shop keeping the barmaid in the money (7)

19. Tree-like writing implement (5)

21. Just the thing for a heavy smoker? (4,4)

23. The sound of certain sleigh bells? (6)

25. Again indicate how to improve the brickwork (7)

26. Proscribes the leading ancient Greek citizens (7)

28. Asinine things to wear? (6,7)

DOWN

2. He builds up a stock that's greyish-white and red in turn (7)

3. What thieves do that's to some extent rather obvious (3)

4. Assent from the Orient, they observe (4) 5. Gathering information while stripping the man of his underwear? (10)

6. How the poor tread was assessed (5) 7. Repeat that I support the deserter's inclusion (7)

8. Coloured American writer being sought by the police?

(11)

10. Makes calumnious remarks about the odd island folk (11)

12. Class in shed for the listener (5)

14. Spy, too, involved with heat treatment (10) 17. Arab terrorists given Question 1 (5)

18. The cleaning fluid has upset the member with spectacles (7)

20. Make repeated calls for a worker in a display (7)

22. Parking, man gets puncture (5)

24. Mount before being knocked over (4)

27. Deer and squirrel kept inside (3)