Index: src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/model/ListLevel.java
===================================================================
--- src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/model/ListLevel.java	(revision 1021466)
+++ src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/model/ListLevel.java	(working copy)
@@ -141,7 +141,10 @@
 
   public String getNumberText()
   {
-    return new String(_numberText);
+    if (_numberText != null)
+      return new String(_numberText);
+    else
+      return null;
   }
 
   public void setStartAt(int startAt)