NY Times Crossword
September 28, 2002
Raymond Hamel

The four letter strings below look like nonsense words, but they actually follow a certain pattern. Each string names two related things, spelled out according to this pattern. Can you discover the pattern and name the hidden things?

1. APLEMCOANND
2. CRAINFNLOEN
3. SEAPBEEER
4. FPLAUISRH

HINT #1:
The letters appear in the correct left-to-right order, but they are not consecutive.

HINT #2:
1. Mixed nuts
2. Linked arms
3. Crossed swords
4. Joined hands

Answers:

The hidden words can be seen by reading every other letter:

1. ALMOND - PECAN
2. CANNON - RIFLE
3. SABER - EPEE
4. FLUSH - PAIR