SPRING'S PUZZLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 105, 30 October 1937, Page 20

SPRING'S PUZZLE

(A Tale written on a Spring D»y by "Lassie," Kelburn.) • ,rriH, dear, I'll never finish this crossword puzzle in time," sighed Fairiel. "I've tried and tried/and got all out except two clues. But Printer Man won't take it, like that. Do leave those envelopes, Letterbox Elf, and come and help me." - "Of course, I will. 'Clever' is my middle name—perhaps!" laughed he. *3Pbor Fairiel! It must be a hard puzzle, to judge by the number of pencils you have nibbled. All- five of them need sharpening, too." "Well, here's room for you at the table, and this is the puzzle. It's a special Crossword for Spring, and the two clues I can't think of are 17 and 5. No. 17 across says, 'The flower that is the same colour as Spring Child's eyes.' Ahd No. 5 down says, 'What Spring blossom has an almond scent?'" . V Letterbox Elf wrinkled his brows and looked hard out of the window, •'-"How■ many letters, Fairiel,. to No. 17?" '"fen, and the eighth one is K." "Oh, then it can't be forget'-ine-not. I was sure that would be right. Wallflower has ten, but no K. And, anyway, I'm inot sure, if Spring's eyes are blue or brown! I'll have to leave that and try the other, 'A blossom with ah almond scent,' second letter A. Musk?—Nothat's four. Pansy?—No "Viat's five. What'a'pity, because they're both a" bit , almondy. Oh, Fairiel, it » difficult. I can't think of anything else,'! and he dropped his pencil despondently. . Next minute he astonished her by springing down and turning a somerjsiih, cad then tugging at her eagerly. "I know—how about going exploring ourselves—you look for No. 5 and I'll hunt for No. 17. And we'll meet again when th« moon rises." "A splendid idea, my Elf, Good luck to our search. I'll see you presently.'' And Fairiel went in one direction and Letterbox Elf in another. They met again, as they had planned, just as the man in the moon looked over the hill. Letterbox EM waved to him, and Fairiel bowed three times, • and then they sat down-to compare results. ''Yours first, please, Fairiel.". • ..... "Well," she replied, "I liad a most fascinating time as I sniffed at the flowers and shrubs. I thought I'had it, in Rosemary—-but its second letter wasn't A. And marigold was too bitter and Honeysuckle too sweet. At last I came to a high,, green hedge? with shar£ thorns and clusters of cream buds almost ready to open. That had an almond scent, unmistakably. I thought. ''Biit that's May—only three letters—and I'll'surely have to give . up. But suddenly I remembered it's often called hawthorn ;as well, so I hurried back at once." . "Goody," cried Letterbox: Elf. "I believe it will fit in. My task was difficult, too, ,as so many of the flowers had gone to sleep. Forget-me-nots' little blue were open, but I remembered they weren't what I wanted. It was' too soon for delphinium—it belongs to summer, ..though it. has the right number of letters. So ; I sat down on a'grassy bank to think a bit = harder. Man in the moon really saved the day, because as he looked over ihy shoulder I noticed a creeper spread up the bank beside me. And it had blue flowers furled for the night, of the softest shades of blue. Guess! Periwinkle! And I'm sure that's right. Oh, do let's hurry back and finish the puzzle!" ■' "Yes, I believe both Will fit in, perfectly. Now Printer Man won't frown, and we needn't bite our pencils any more!" She turned and blew a kiss to man in the moon, Letterbox Elf waved his feathered'cap, and then both took hands and ran as hard as they could towards the Fairy Eing, while man in'the moon chuckled until they were out of sight.