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34 ac. Merchant catches trucker on Route 66, say, grabbing money (12, two words). With what I've got, I think it is 'tramp steamer', but cannot parse it. Anyone know if I'm way off the mark here?

Could you please let us know any letters that you have and if you know that the two words are (5,7). Thanks

With Mephisto, you are not given the word-breaking pattern. The clue is just as I gave it.

I don't know the crossword but presumably it works on the usual principles and you have some crossing letters you could give?

'Catches' gives Traps
Grabbing Money gives M (so Tramps)
Teamer is a trucker, truck driver in America. It's usually 'teamster' but Chambers gives 'teamer' too.

So... Tramp Steamer, merchant (ship).
Phew!

Thanks Malone. I had figured the 'traps' as 'catches', but didn't check the alternative to 'teamster'. Thanks to other contributors as well.

Happy to help. I'd done this crossword earlier, but hadn't given a thought as to how the clue worked - your post/question made me curious!