We shall call him Mr. John. He was an excellent young man, an all- rounder and was popular. No wonder he chose to become an educator and he did become one. He put himself to his tasks with heart and soul and no wonder he became popular very soon. He might be seen within the field, he would be called to deal with a students' audience, and he would be the foremost in organizing any school function. Thus he became the favorite of the Headmaster, and therefore the envy of a number of his seniors.
To mar his reputation something serious happened. It was the annual examination and therefore the question papers were being set. Naturally, Mr. John being the confidant of the Headmaster was helping the latter in collecting the question papers and sending them to the press.
But suddenly sort of a bolt from the blue, two days before the Mathematics examination, the question paper was out and it had been within the hands of each boy. At first the news was a whisper then it became public. There was commotion within the school and therefore the matter reached the ears of the Headmaster. Indeed it had been a shock to him and he couldn't rush into any conclusion. He was a mature person but the teachers began to look at Mr. John with suspicion and though they never blamed him openly they spread rumors that Mr. John had a hand within the pilfering of the question papers. The rumor reached the ears of the Headmaster. Formally he spoke to Mr. John about the leakage of the question papers and secretly arranged for a fresh set of papers to be also printed through Mr. John. So on the day of the examination the new set of papers was given to the surprise and shock of all.
Mr. John had been worried when his colleagues looked upon him with suspicion and therefore the boys too began talking about his alleged complicity within the leakage. The matter didn't stop there. It had reached the ears of the management then the Secretary wanted the Headmaster to carry on enquiry into the conduct of Mr. John in this affair. Poor Mr. John had been spending sleepless nights and wanted to clear his name.
Mr. John started enquiring from the boys how that they had got the paper. But the clue wasn't easily forthcoming because the boys refused to speak . Mr. John would not take defeat. After all he was popular and there were a few boys who were devoted to him. So Mr. John caught hold of 1 such boy and promised him complete secrecy and protection. The boy was reluctant initially but eventually began slowly yielding to persuasion. He told Mr. John how he got hold of the copy of the question paper and also the routine behind the debacle.
It had all happened this way. The question paper packets had been sent by post to the press to be printed. The packets were sent through the peon to the post office. One of the boys who was poor in Mathematics and who wanted to pass bought the peon with a bribe and got the question paper packets from him. He had it copied then repacked the first packet and posted it.
The boy with the question paper couldn't keep his secret contained. He circulated copies of it to his intimate friends who in their turn gave it to other boys until every student was having one copy of the Mathematics paper. The information from the boy was passed on discreetly to the Headmaster who enquired very tactfully. The boy who had actually master-minded the plan refused to talk the reality , but the peon under threat of dismissal admitted his having parted with the question papers to the boy. When confronted by the guilty peon, the boy couldn't hold his fort. He had to admit his guilt. Mr. John was relieved and now he could set about his duties with a transparent mind. His honor was restored by the management of the varsity also because the public. Thus honesty always pays.
