procedure repeated

resolve apel#64  .  repeats the procedure either until it works or until it has been repeated three times

ssm/ssm2.py

@@ -316,10 +316,11 @@ def _handle_msg(self, text):
 
         return message, signer, None
 
+    fails = 0
     def _save_msg_to_queue(self, body, empaid):
         """Extract message contents and add to the accept or reject queue."""
         extracted_msg, signer, err_msg = self._handle_msg(body)
-        fails = 0
+
         try:
             # If the message is empty or the error message is not empty
             # then reject the message.
@@ -350,7 +351,7 @@ def _save_msg_to_queue(self, body, empaid):
         except (IOError, OSError) as error:
             log.error('Failed to read or write file: %s', error)
             fails += 1
-            if fails < 3:
+            if fails <= 3:
                 return _save_msg_to_queue(self, body, empaid)
 
     def _send_msg(self, message, msgid):