SPIDER'S WEB I
Credit: GAMES Magazine
Oct/Nov, 1989
Will Shortz

Each clue to this puzzle has had the letters to the answer removed in order. For example, given the clue

_ _ EEP   _LONG   SLO _ _ Y, the answer would be CRAWL, as in

CReep   Along  sloWLy.

Replace the letters to discover - and define - the answers to the clues below:

1   _ _ DIRA  GAN _ H _ ' S   L _ ND
2.  _ EEBLE   _ ND   D _ STA _ _
3.  EXCLAMA _ _ ON  FRO _   LUM _ _ _ JACKS
4.  ST _ A _ _  HT ;  F _ XE _
5.  PRODU _ T   _ F   PLAN _ A _ I _ _ S
6.  PE _ S _ NNEL  REGI _ _ _ _
7.  _ _ URCH - G _ ING   S _ NGE _ _
8.  FA _ SIF _ _ _ _
9.  _ _ I _ TEEN   L _ SS   T _ N
10.  _ _ _ AIN ; PR _ _ _ URE
11.  U _ LY  _ ORROR   M _ VIE   REG _ _ AR
12.   _ IO _   D _ _ IGN ,  PERHAP _
13.  TRAN _ _ _ L ; SIL _ N _
14.  D _ CEA _ ED ' S   _ OT _ L   PROPER _ I _ S
15.  TRA _ ELER 'S  SM _ _ L _ SH   _UITCAS _

Answers:

1. INDIA
2. FAINT
3. TIMBER
4. RIGID
5. COTTON
6. ROSTER
7. CHOIRS
8. LYING
9. THREE
10. STRESS
11. GHOUL
12. DRESS
13. QUIET
14. ESTATE
15. VALISE