He straightened, his face grew convulsed.

Pausing on the verge of violent action, he heard Hamlin's voice: "Shorty!" Shorty leaned over.

Straining, his muscles working, his eyes blazing, Shorty heard low words issuing from Hamlin's lips: "Slade done it, Shorty.

An' he's got Ruth--took her upstairs.
Shorty--save her--for God's sake!" Shorty straightened.

"Take this man to the doctor--he's hit bad!" The words were flung at the four men; and Shorty was on the move before he finished.
Blackburn and the others were close behind him when he burst into the front door of the saloon.
The saloon occupied the entire lower floor.