From now on the going is easy. We have plenty of clues to the words
that we do not know. (See Figure 3.) Rechecking the horizontals, we
find that we have the first, third, fourth and fifth letters of
“disparage,” and with their aid we easily see that the word is DETRACT.
Looking for a two letter word meaning “an edge-tool,” we soon find that
there is but one word that will fit. We place AX in position. With nine
vertical beginning with an A it is easy to find that ARE is the proper
word. Ten horizontal proves to be EGG and eleven becomes ART. We say to
ourselves that if we could only get five vertical we would have the
puzzle solved. Well, why not? Is the second letter an a, e, i, o, or u?
The definition gives it as “a web.” What word will fit but TEXTURE? We
place that into position. Now, we find that we have the puzzle almost
completed. Fifteen horizontal needs a three letter word meaning
“impair.” Its middle letter must be an A. With the A to guide us that
is simple. The word is “SAP.” Fifteen and sixteen being two letter
words are easily found, and we place SO and PI into position. We now
find that we have the puzzle completed with one exception. Seventeen
horizontal has to be found. Its first, third, fourth, fifth and seventh
letters are P OMI E. A consonant is needed for the second letter, and R
seems to be the most logical choice. That gives us the word, which is
defined as “agreement.” (See Figure 4.)
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| 1 | | 2 | 3 | 4 | | 5 |
| D | E | T | R | A | C | T |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| |#####| 6 | | |#####| |
| E |#####| O | A | T |#####| E |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| 7 | 8 |#####| |#####| 9 | |
| V | A |#####| T |#####| A | X |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| 10 | | |#####| 11 | | |
| E | G | G |#####| A | R | T |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| 12 | |#####| 13 |#####| 14 | |
| L | O |#####| R |#####| E | U |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| |#####| 15 | | 16 |#####| |
| O |#####| S | A | P |#####| R |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| 17 | | | | | | |
| P | R | O | M | I | S | E |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+