The drone of their arrival filled the theatre: so realistic was the effect that the planned scream of the girl on the stage was echoed by women among the watchers—to the rumble and roar was added the culminating contact.
The vision died as the translucent screen through which it had all been observed was gradually lighted by the first scenes of the real picture, showing the events of the story which began at the crash.
“Well!” muttered Don, “did you see what I saw?”
“The very same as the spectre in the cloud!” agreed Garry.
“Yes,” Chick contributed, “and I see the clue in the smoke, fellows. Every time that spook has appeared—it has been a cloudy night!”
“That’s it!” Don agreed. “The cloud acted as a screen—and now we know what was done—a picture was thrown on a cloud. But how—and by whom?” He paused. The theatre manager, passing up the aisle, gave them a pleasant salute—and all three mentally answered Don’s query!
CHAPTER XX
DON TESTS A THEORY
With one accord the trio of youths hurried out of the Palace and paused just around the corner from its lighted marquee.
“Yes, sirree!” Chick spoke the conclusion of a train of thought that was clear to his comrades, “Toby Tew is the one!” Don nodded.
“He knew about that film they used,” he declared, “and how the picture was thrown onto the smoke. They had a picture projecting machine hidden in the wings, and when the film was run through it, with a strong light, against the background of the dark stage, the visions appeared on the cloud of smoke.”