He spoke to Blackburn, throwing the words back over his shoulder: "Hold 'em right where they are--damn 'em!" Then with a few gigantic bounds he was at the foot of the stairs.

In a few more he had gained the top, where he pressed his huge shoulder against the door.

It gave a little--enough to further enrage the giant.
He drew back a little and literally hurled himself against it.

It burst open, Shorty keeping his feet as the wreck fell away from him.

And he saw Slade, with a hand over Ruth's mouth, standing near the foot of the bed.
Evidently Slade had been about to release Ruth when he heard the door crashing behind him; for at the instant Shorty emerged from the wreck he saw that the girl's body was already falling--toward the bed--as Slade drew away from her and reached for his guns.
They came out--both of them--streaking fire and smoke.