The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 2,216 - Dec 14 2003

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Clues Answers
'And,' you interpose, 'the blighter is mediocre' SOSO
500 left the trench with irritation ITCH
A flat bit on the outside, meant to reshape APARTMENT
A glance, say, would give the impression APPEAR
Allow the French bean to straggle at first ENABLE
And in a sturdy cover, catch the eye STANDOUT
Beats kisses! SMACKS
Check up about the ramshackle ranch they're selling MERCHANTS
Dance deliriously round the room when it's called off CANCELLED
Even while playing, the man carries a gun LEGATO
Greek who finished off the Elizabethan THEBAN
Had done wrong, carrying an unauthorised gun: gets prison DUNGEON
Here's to getting a professional model! PROSIT
In the picture, the crook's confession ICON
Many, worn out, can swim no longer DROWN
Means only 'natural fibre' CASHMERE
Clues Answers
Nice open spaces, be eager to fence in PLEASANT
Not even in the cast, being second-rate SHODDY
One put roughly fifty in, being rich OPULENT
Pin medals on, to make look prettier DECORATE
Rigid ideas, contrived to discard SETASIDE
Round the bend, out to get rid of OUST
Say it's a lock-up ASSERT
So unless the daughter is in, it will be quiet SOUNDLESS
Somehow puts the key in the wrong way round UPSET
Staggers out, collapsing, with the sands swirling about ASTOUNDS
Takes pity on the rest milling about Len RELENTS
They're inhabited, the detective said HOMES
Very chummy, one may conclude CLOSE
What one scores when one gets a pair of ducks HUNDRED
What the children are tugging at like mad? CRACKERS
Where the doddering old dear with nothing became rich? ELDORADO