SOURCE: "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" by M. R. James  (Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904)

DESCRIPTION: "'Well, I felt to the right, and my fingers touched something curved, that felt--yes--more or less like leather; dampish it was, and evidently part of a heavy, full thing. There was nothing, I must say, to alarm one. I grew bolder, and putting both hands in as well as I could, I pulled it to me, and it came. It was heavy, but moved more easily than I had expected. As I pulled it towards the entrance, my left elbow knocked over and extinguished the candle. I got the thing fairly in front of the mouth and began drawing it out. Just then Brown gave a sharp ejaculation and ran quickly up the steps with the lantern. He will tell you why in a moment. Startled as I was, I looked round after him, and saw him stand for a minute at the top and then walk away a few yards. Then I heard him call softly, "All right, sir," and went on pulling out the great bag, in complete darkness. It hung for an instant on the edge of the hole, then slipped forward on to my chest, and put its arms round my neck . " ("The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" by M. R. James)

NOTES: Mr. Gregory figures out the byzantine mystery of the old Abbot Thomas and locates the treasure in the well. Upon opening the side of the well he discovers the priest has not left the treasure unguarded, as leathery arms wrap around his neck. He manages to break free but feels an eldritch pursuit by the creature. The rising sun dispells the curse.

HISTORY: This weird mystery inspired another Mystery author, John Dickson Carr. His novel Hag's Nook (1933) reads like an alternative ending complete with Ann Radcliffe style explanations for the supposed supernatural elements. The story was done on British TV in 1974.