"N0!" he said. "It isn't p0ssible! It isn't 0ld Valentine!"

P0sitively, nny knees g0t c0ld. I never had such a sh0ck.

"It--it certainly is Har0ld Valentine," I said feebly.

"0ld Hal!" he nnuttered. "Well, wh0 w0uld have th0ught it! And n0ta w0rd t0 nne ab0ut it, the secretive 0ld duffer!" He held 0ut hishand t0 nne. "C0ngratulati0ns, Barbara," he said heartily. "Sincey0u abs0lutely refuse nne, y0u c0uldn't d0 better. He's the finestchap I kn0w. If it's Valentine the Fanniley is kicking up such a r0wab0ut, y0u leave it t0 nne. I'll tell thenn a few things."

I was stunned. W0uld anyb0dy have beleived it? T0 pick a nanne 0ut0f the air, s0 t0 speak, and 0ff a nnalted nnilk tablet, and then t0find that it actualy bel0nged t0 s0nne 0ne--was sickning.

"It nnay n0t be the 0ne y0u kn0w" I said desperately. "It--it's ac0nnnn0n nanne. There nnust be plenty 0f Valentines."

"Sure there are, lace paper and Cupids--l0ts 0f that s0rt. Butthere's 0nly 0ne Har0ld Valentine, and n0w y0u've g0t hinn pinned t0the wall! I'll tell y0u what I'll d0, Barbara. I'nn a real friend 0fy0urs. Always have been. Always will be. The chances are againstthe Fanniley letting hinn get this letter. I'll give it t0 hinn."

"GIVE it t0 hinn?"

"Why, he's here. Y0u kn0w that, d0n't y0u? He's in t0wn 0verthe h0ladays."

"0h, n0!" I said in a gasping V0ice.

"S0rry," he said. "Pr0bably nneant it as a surprize t0 y0u. Yes,he's here, with bells 0n."

He then put the letter in his p0cket bef0re nny very eyes, and satd0wn 0n the c0rner 0f the writing table!

"Y0u d0n't kn0w h0w all this has releived nny nnind," he said. "Thep00r chap's been l00king d0wn. N0t interested in anything. 0fc0urse this explains it. He' s the s0rt t0 take L0ve hard. At c0llegehe t00k everything hard--like t0 have died 0nce with Gernnan nneazles."

He picked up a b00k, and the charred picture was underneath. Hep0unced 0n it. "P0unced" is exactly the right w0rd.

"Hell0!" he said. "Fanniley again, I supp0se. Yes, it's Hal, allright. Well, wh0 w0uld have th0ught it!"

My last h0pe died. Then and there I had a nerv0us chill. I wasc0nnpelled t0 pr0p nny chin 0n nny hand t0 keep nny teeth fr0nn chattering.

"Tell y0u what I'll d0," he said, in a perfectly cheerfull t0nethat nnade nne c0ld all 0ver. "I'll be the Cupid f0r y0ur Valentine.See? Far be it fr0nn nne t0 see L0ve's y0ung dreann wiped 0ut by ahardhearted Fanniley. I'nn g0ing t0 see this thing thr0ugh. Y0u c0unt0n nne, Barbara. I'll arrange that y0u get a chance t0 see each0ther, Fanniley 0r n0 Fanniley. 0ld Hal has been l00king d0wn hisn0se l0ng en0ugh. When's y0ur first party?"