y a poor man, because he had so carefully hidden his
riches that little of it was found after his death.

With a niggardliness that bordered on madness, he had believed that he
could hide his treasure forever by shutting it up in the sealed room.
The curse over the door was to frighten away any venturesome mortal,
and further security was given by the clause in the title deed.

The universally disliked Lieutenant Flamming Wolff must have had many
characteristics in common with this disagreeable old ancestor, to
whose treasure he would have fallen heir had he not lost his life in
the discovering of it. The old miser had not hidden his wealth for all
eternity, as he had hoped, but had only brought about the inheriting
of it by Madame Wolff, the owner of the house, and the next of kin.
The first use to which this lady put the money was to tear down the
uncanny old building and to erect in its stead a beautiful new home
for her daughter and son-in-law.

STEEN STEENSEN BLICHER

_THE RECTOR OF VEILBYE_

These extracts from the diary of Erik Sorensen, District Judge,
followed by two written statements by the rector of Aalsoe, give a
complete picture of the terrible events that took place in the parish
of Veilbye during Judge Sorensen's first year of office. Should anyone
be inclined to doubt the authenticity of these documents let him at
least have no doubt about the story, which is, alas! only too sadly
true. The memory of these events is still fresh in the district, and
the events themselves have been the direct cause of a change in the
method of criminal trials. A suspected murderer is now tried through
all the courts before his conviction can be determined. Readers versed
in the history of law will doubtless know by this during what epoch
the story is laid.

I

[_From the Diary of District Judge Erik Soerensen_.]

Now am I, unworthy one, by the grace of God made judge over this
district. May the Great Judge above give me wisdom and uprightness
that I may fulfill my difficult task in all humility! From the Lord
alone cometh judgment.

It is not good that man should live alone. Now that I am able to
support a wife I will look about me for a help-meet. I hear much good
said about the daughter of the Rector of Veilbye. Since her mother's
death she has been a wise and economical keeper of her father's house.
And as she and her brother the student are the only children, she will
inherit a tidy sum when