Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Puzzle by Robert Dillman, edited by Will Shortz
Gambling -- profession or confession?
FOURTEENRED (17A Call in roulette); HITMEAGAIN (30A Call in blackjack); DOUBLEORNOTHING (37A Call in many a betting game); ILLTAKEONE (46A Call in draw poker); and ROLLTHEDICE (66A Call in craps) are the inter-related entries in today's winner of a puzzle.
Sevens: ANTITAX (20A For smaller government, presumably); ENABLER (21A One who supplies the means); PATTERS (56A Sounds of walking in moccasins); SCRAPER (60A Deicing tool); and STARDOM (24D Celebrity).
Sixes: ALEXEI (6D Cosmonaut Leonov, the first human to walk in space); THELMA (11D 1991 Geena Davis title role); DOREMI (12D "The Sound of Music" hit); STYRON (13D "Sophie's Choice" author); IMPEDE (46D Hinder); LEASES (47D Some auto deals); LATENT (48D Present but not active); and NESTLE (50D Be cozy).
Fives: SCALP (1A A diehard enemy might want yours); AMASS (6A Gather); Armor vincit OMNIA (14A); LACTO (15A Milk: Prefix);
ROSIE (34A Robot maid on "The Jetsons"); AUDIO (45A Broadcast portion); Challenge to ADUEL (69A); NIECE (70A Family girl); SEEME (72A Request to meet in person); and ANSEL (73A Photographer Adams).
Fours: SOFA, CMON, ANUT, LIRI, ACRE, STEN, SODA, EACH, ASTA, ELLA, ERAS, RODE, SLUE, ADIN, PIES, ECCE, REEL, ICES, AMMO, OLAF, AIDS, LEND, MOTO, MEAN, and META.
Threes: TDS, HOT, ERY, ESE, DEN, LEM, EST, ASU, FIB, NIT, ORO, TNT, MAN and MIN, EDO and IDO, GOO and LOO.
Deuces: Played a quarter in a slot machine in Reno, Nevada -- nothing came out. Did it once more in Atlantic City, same result -- that's the extent of my gambling, except I buy a one-dollar lottery ticket twice a week.
Snake Eyes: At a travelling carnival on the outskirts of Sioux Falls, South Dakota in my teens with a friend -- he was throwing balls at some stand and had been convinced he'd win if he could double what he lost (that's right, DOUBLEORNOTHING) -- I said no, because what he needed was everything in my pocket. Friendship and stupidity, I was eventually convinced. One throw, he lost it all! I saw him a week later walking on Ninth, the main drag. He crossed the street to avoid me -- I not only lost all my money, I had also lost a friend!
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For today's cartoons,go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
