Double crossword 04/10/2012
Cryptic puzzle
Across
1. Guarantee weapon will have head removed (4)
3. More bizarre foreigner? (8)
8. Got a bit confused over what to wear (4)
9. The salesman can charm ten different characters (8)
11. A human train I see as compassionate (12)
13. Loaned the Italian something to go in the soup (6)
14. Work of Proust read in a daze (6)
17. Mold’s gin hall turned into a farm (12)
20. Get back dog right away (8)
21. Slightly crazy article coming after joke (4)
22. Let’s turn out cover note and fight (8)
23. Taken to include part of south-east England (4)
Down
1. Keep back when accompanying head-hunter veteran (8)
2. Military group won’t finish as a rule (7)
4. Deal with yourself first, that’s the agreement (6)
5. Ray cut lace the correct way (10)
6. Hang around at a place in Africa (5)
7. One having a turn, say, on the register (4)
10. Nude lying about holding one that’s stubborn (10)
12. Melvyn perhaps, has the skill to be a boaster (8)
15. Secret trap I’ve discovered (7)
16. Push student into scoop (6)
18. Engine too complicated for Mister Short to take in (5)
19. Makes a living on vessels, we hear (4)
Quick puzzle
Across
1. Mild (4)
3. Scholarly (8)
8. Askew (4)
9. Overcome (8)
11. Battle-hungry (12)
13. Save (6)
14. Pass (6)
17. Indoctrination (12)
20. Slaughter (8)
21. Den (4)
22. Nomad (8)
23. Tax (4)
Down
1. Sheath (8)
2. Irate (7)
4. Ensnared (6)
5. Dispirit (10)
6. Steed (5)
7. Clever (4)
10. Judge (10)
12. Poor (8)
15. Personal (7)
16. Veer (6)
18. Ascended (5)
19. Duck (4)
Wednesday’s solutions
CRYPTIC - Across: 1 Mollycoddle; 9 Obliger; 10 Femur; 11 Medal; 12 Terrain; 13 Malaya; 15 Lay off; 18 Recycle; 20 Lower; 22 Taunt; 23 Invoice; 24 Frankfurter. Down: 2 Oiled; 3 Legally; 4 Curate; 5 Defer; 6 Lumbago; 7 Commemorate; 8 Transferred; 14 Lacquer; 16 All-over; 17 Relief; 19 Cut in; 21 White.
QUICK - Across: 1 Acclimatise; 9 Liberal; 10 Brash; 11 Manic; 12 Chaplet; 13 Occult; 15 Earwig; 18 Amnesia; 20 Media; 22 Crude; 23 Dervish; 24 Profiterole. Down: 2 Cabin; 3 Lyrical; 4 Malice; 5 Tibia; 6 Swallow; 7 Flamboyance; 8 Photography; 14 Conquer; 16 Admirer; 17 Bandit; 19 Sheaf; 21 Drill.