Once she encountered it for herself, Clever Jeanette found the tales of the Dreadful Pirate Ghost Ship somewhat exaggerated.

 

Finding herself without a blade, Clever Jeannette had to improvise.

 

 

Sheets McGee was suspiciously amused when confronted with the discovery of the severed anchor rope.

Put your back into it, Clever Jeanette...for we will not be bested by an inanimate object again!

 

 

A gambler by trade, Dash O'Leary was experienced enough never to bet the train would arrive on time.

 

The fans became necessary when they realized the mustache glue from their previous disguise was permanent.

 

- Caption by contest winner Eric Dunlap

 

Clever Jeanette attempted to divert the nefarious Dr. Whittlestone's minions, but they proved themselves not as gullible as she had hoped.

 

Clever Jeanette was certain she had found the hiding place of the missing clue. Now she just had to find the correct key...

Sheets McGee's lucky streak was on the verge of a precipitous end.

 

 

 

They approached with caution, remembering the first rule of herbology - never trust a succulent.

How very odd, Clever Jeanette. I fully expected the door to be booby trapped.

 

Success was certain, for they knew the only thing Sheets McGee feared worse than revealing his sources was bathing.

 

Once exposed to sunlight, the parchment presented a quite different puzzle.



 

 

Just one more adjustment, and the investigation would be on the right track.

Dark Charity fell prey to the nefarious Dr. Whittlestone's diabolical fainting couch.

 

 

Clever Jeanette knew that if she could reach the top of the pole she would find something that would shed light on the situation.

 

 

Dark Charity and Clever Jeanette were disappointed to find that what they thought was the nefarious Dr. Whittlestone's lair was actually just a photograph of a laboratory taped to the other side of the peephole.  

 

 

Keeping it under his hat proved difficult for Sheets McGee.

 

Crossing the River Styx was not quite as intimidating as Dark Charity and Clever Jeanette had been led to believe.

 

Clever Jeanette hoped this would give them a leg up on the investigation.

The reservations for their rooms weren't the only ones Dark Charity had about the Menger Hotel.

Clever Jeanette knew that if she were patient, Sheets McGee would eventually tell all.

 

Dark Charity hoped the effects of the nefarious Dr. Whittlestone's Shrink Ray were temporary.

 

 

Much to Clever Jeanette's chagrin, the building was not where she had left it.

 

 

The aetheromagnetic ectodimensional chronospatial displacement chairs were a great success.

Even though organic umbrellas seemed to be a good idea at the time, clever Jeanette was just a bit miffed at the 'Dark Charity Lacey sunstopper' complete with young boy attachment.

 - Caption contest winner Lewis Randall

Not even Clever Jeanette could improve upon Dark Charity's umBOYlla.

- Caption contest winner Caroline Brock

July 1, 2013

 

The answer was almost in her grasp.

 

Fetch some water, she said... Use the bucket, she said...

 

Clever Jeanette was able to easily decipher the code once she realized it was just very poor handwriting.

 

Step One of Clever Jeanette's plan had been executed flawlessly.

 

Clever Jeanette took a moment to admire her handiwork. The plan was going splendidly.

Clever Jeanette was thrilled to attend her first cotillion despite her certainty that the blind date her cousin had arranged was not quite her type.

 

It seems you've made the classic mistake of bringing a cane to a gunfight.

Dark Charity kept a watchful eye, knowing full well the bells on the caboose would draw the ghastly creature's attention. 

 

Despite her best effort to stay awake, Clever Jeanette swiftly succumbed to the spell of the slumbering spectre.

 

Clever Jeanette felt the solution was just beyond her reach.

Dark Charity was vexed to discover that what she had assumed was the Captain's Log was actually a well-worn copy of Little Women.

 

It worked!

 

Little did Clever Jeanette know that the seedy underbelly of the city was right next door.

 

Sheets McGee was betting Captain Blackthorne wouldn't notice a missing trinket or two. Or three.

 

 

Their attempt to take the handcar would have met with great success had Sheets McGee removed his foot from the brake.

 

 

Dark Charity had not a moment of doubt, certain her guise as the Avon Lady would ensure her admittance to the house.

 

 

Clever Jeanette discovered the flaw in her plan almost immediately.

 

 

The mysterious gentleman was charming enough to make Dark Charity suspicious.

 

 

 

As Clever Jeanette warmed her hands at the stove, she spied what appeared to be the charred remains of the nefarious Dr. Whittlestone's notes.

While the effect was not as elegant as that of the Bronzing Ray, the result of the nefarious Dr. Whittlestone's earlier effort the Plaster Ray was just as unsettling.

 

 

Clever Jeanette soon came to regret telling Sheets McGee to tap on the underside of her bunk should he think of anything she ought to know.

 

 

Something in the cadence of the mysterious gentleman's gait garnered Dark Charity's closer attention.

 

 

It appears I have the upper hand, you scalawags, for your rope is no match for my pistol!

 

 

Sheets McGee and his chum decided it would be best to just grin and bear it.