THE " SPECTATOR" CROSSWORD No. 716

[A Book Token for one guinea will be awarded to the sender of the first correct solution opened after noon on Tuesday week, February 17th. addressed Crossword, 99 Cower Street, "London, W.C.1. Envelopes must be received not later than first post that day and must bear the NUMBER of the puzzle and a 21d. stamp. Solutions must be on the form below, and none can be accepted from the U.S.A. The solution and the name of the winner will be published in the following issue.j

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Across

9. To stage-hands this programme might seem an anomaly. (7, 8.)

10. It isn't clean and might be cruet. (5.)

11. This should be a secretive member. (5. 4.) 12. Comply and take a seat in the middle. (7.) 13. Any exit may cause it. (7.) 14. Is be from U.S.A. ? (9.) 21. Set a man to compose. (7.) 23. Spare mixture gets two pence at the ends. (7.) 24. Quote back breaking the rules. (9.) 25. Plane crash. (5.)

16. Where parents must be planking down fees 7 (8. 7.)

Down

1. My sister said Swinburne's nightingale. ,(7.)

2. Christmas biscuit. (7.) 3. It was the well-spoken bachelor who at last married. (8.) 4. Most of the ashtray is missing. (6.) 5. Occasions for alms and the girl. (4. 4.) 6. The doctor should have known the cost of naughtiness. (6.)

7. Are tips what they yield ? (7.)

8. Make hay too long and end in the middle. (7.) 15. I go ashore with a damaged hat first. (8.) 16. It's in the basin. (8.) 17. Impute. (7.)

II. Ten, Carl. got in the middle. (7.)

19. A foolish bird electrified in the middle. (7.) 20. A lid's broken but giles in all right. (7.) 22. Passage from war cadet training. (6.) 23. Give over. (6.)