The Telegraph - CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO: 2,409 - Dec 9 2007

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Clues Answers
A box and an upturned barrel � brown CHESTNUT
A tip from the boss HEAD
Agree about the new bat being passable NOTBAD
All but a quarter premature NEARLY
Announce it's for the shellfish I am stuffing PROCLAIM
Are worried stiff about the gun FIREARM
Breathe life into and put it into a bag VITALISE
Convinced, rips out the interior, to one's consternation SURPRISE
Could be a hunter with a gun REPEATER
Covering up? The sauce! DRESSING
Eat too much egg ourselves: it's lovely GORGEOUS
Encouraged the dropout and me to move in PROMOTED
Finish off with an excellent left CAPITALL
Flavouring a mince pie calls for ALLSPICE
Go back again, a month back, to mid-September RECEDE
Hardly a mark on the outside of the case SCARCE
Clues Answers
Inform about, when you're to act as locum for FILLIN
It is inspired and lively SPIRITED
Leaves spread out, covering the table-top DEPARTS
Legitimately off work, or so you say SICK
Not noticing he's misspelled 'Leeds' in it HEEDLESS
Offer to store the equipment for her BRIGID
Saw the clue for 'grasped' might BEHELD
Show I meant to go off key MATINEE
Someone drawing from a bank TIER
Spoil the walk TURN
Tell you there will be rain, to make you happy RELATE
Thanks to going through one's transgressions and blemishes STAINS
The gift put on account, off we went TALENT
Trouble from scratch SCRAPE
Was furious, or got the pip about SEETHED
Will often be cast in cowboy films LARIAT