Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-12

'"iue VI 'hree pies u IhrtnlnRb nau
been unaccounted for. The stamp
could be clearly traced to the desk
and control OF Babu Tara Chand-
Thence It had disappeared
Babu Tara Chand was not summa-
| rily dismissed: neither was he made
the target OF a criminal prosecution. In
stead he received n lengthy letter on
blue fo9lscap paper. pointing out In
detail bow certain property OF her
most gihcious majesty the queen en-
press-to wit, one Indian postage stamp
OF the value OF three pies-had been
committed to his care on certain
date and that up to the date OF writ
ing no adequate explanation had been
forthcoming OF said postage stamp.
The communication fell upon the
'uckless Tara Chand like bolt from
the blue. 1t left but three courses
| open 10 him-viz:
(a) Resign from the service.
(b) Explain the Disappearance OF the
farthinG postage stamp I'm manner
deemed satisfactory by the auditor.
(c) Recoup the farthing.
or these three courses II win be
obvious 20 any person with the shall.
lowest knowledge OF the Bengali char.
acter that the third one (c) was from
the outset beyond the pale Of con-
sideration. The first (a) was also too
terrible TO contemplate. Therefore
Babu Tara Cband sat down and com
posed a letter which was a masterpiece
In its way and In which he requested
TO be relieved from routine service for
period OF four weeks to enable him
TO make such a search among the rec
ords OF the department, etc, as might
enable him to trace the missing stamp.
This reasonable request was readily
granted.
-Four weeks later Babu Tara Chand
applied for a further term of two
weeks wherein to draw up a report
upon the results OF his investigations
In pursuit Of the Grant postage stamp.
This, having passed through the eight
cen or nineteen different hands neces-
sary for such an application, was I'm
turn duly granted, and at the end Of
the fortnight Tara Chand submitted a
report OF 21o foolscap pages. explain
Ing that, despite the most diligent eff
forts and inquiries on his part he had
been unable TO secure tho slightest
clew to the cause OF the deficiency.
II When the department OF audits and
accounts had fully digested this docu-
ment and presented report Of the
same in official precis TO the auditor
general the auditor general through
tho secretary Of the assistant auditor
general OF the presidency OF Bengal
notified Babu Tara Chand that It was
not wholly satisfactory and that tho
/ circumstances bearing upon the loss of
the stamp would have TO be definitely
explained and proved or the deficit of
three pies would have TO be made good.
Babu Tara Cband stuck 10 his guns
and wrote again. He wrote many
times. AS often as he wrote his ex-
plantations tho auditor general wrote
SignifyiDg his official dissatisfaction
with tho same.
Eventually, one fine day about nine
months subsequent 20 the discovery Of
the loss and some two years subse-
| quent TO its alleged preparation, the
auditor general-bis interest in the
matter OF fsrthing postage stamp be-
Ing overwhelmed IN a frontier war
budget-sent an ulumatum TO Tara
| Chand. The loss of the postage stamp
would have 90 be definitely explained
or Its value, tho sum OF three pies, be
duly refunded to the treasurer of the
Swankigabh district.
Then Babu Tara Chand became DOS
sessed OF an inspiration which even
to this day IS pointed 20 with pride
and competency by even the most cir
rumlocutory OF the red tape depart
lnents within tho purview OF the gov
'rnment Of India.
Babu Tara Chand wrote TO the audi
tor general as follows:
sir-In reply 60 your memo. OF 7th inst.
4 have tho honor 10 state terrible confia-
grafton OF my cook house on 5th inst,
hopelessly annihilating all documents in
inc case OF lost postage stamp OF three
pies. property OF her most gracious mai
esty the queen empress. Therefore By
grace Of God and under regulation pars.
Be. section cIxIi, Of departmental reg
ulations. volume 81 CBenRaD. request you
forward for my Information complete
copies OF entire file OF correspondence I'm
this case. so that I can report again upon
same 20 your satisfaction. / have the
honor 70 be. sir, your most obedient hum
bic servant. TARA CHAND.
Deputy Subassistant Clerk 90 the Deputy
Collector, Swankibagh.
The auditor general never replied.
Tara Chand had won his case--Lon-
don Tit.Bits