The Mercury E-dition

CRYPTIC

ACROSS

4 Was sent back by William Bird (3-4) 8 Simple textbook once used by the artilleryman (6) 9 Assign to a Jewish writer (7) 10 Banker’s order to verify, we hear (6) 11 Rushes to alter blood group (6) 12 Account with favourable balance to certify as satisfactory (8) 18 Small beetle for the hen? (8) 20 It’s easy to find an account in the documentary system (6) 21 He scratches and adds up the points (6) 22 Sporting method drivers of course should keep to (7) 23 In the East, a tussle for social ranking (6) 24 One involved in the shop’s accounts (7)

DOWN

1 & 2Dn No commonplace authorisation for the match (7,7) 2 See 1 Down 3 Decline to make us free (6) 5 So trades can be varied (8) 6 Exclude fellows who work for mine host (6) 7 You’ll find work belonging to us at the end of the science room (6) 13 Entrust another with the duties of French ambassador (8) 14 Not the daily price, we hear, for fertiliser! (7) 15 A speech written on an envelope (7) 16 Blast a variety of rock (6) 17 Is it used by one in reflective mood? (6) 19 A hundred in hasty change for the boats (6)

Yesterday’s solutions:

Across: 1 Fire engines. 9 Hoe. 10 Slaughter. 11 Tepid. 13 Cravats. 14 Gentry. 16 Becalm. 18 Against. 19 Audit. 20 Harmonica. 21 Duo. 22 Imprisoning. Down: 2 Ire. 3 Eased. 4 Nuance. 5 Ingrate. 6 Extra hand. 7 Photography. 8 Presumption. 12 Pentagram. 15 Rancour. 17 Stairs. 19 Again. 21 Den.

THE XFILES

en-za

2021-05-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-05-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://themercury.pressreader.com/article/281925955899305

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