Five days after Storms died, the Leadville Democrat wrote about the shooting. It said that Storms approached Short and "catching him by the ear", demanded an apology. According to the account, Storms grabbed Short's ear with his left hand and his right hand contained a pistol aimed at Short. Short drew his weapon and shot Storms, who returned fire, but missed. Short then put two more bullets into "the sinking soul of Storms." Dodge City Short left Tombstone in early 1881, arriving in Dodge City in April 1881. He remained in Dodge City until the final months of 1883, although he made frequent trips to pursue gambling opportunities. During February 1883, Chalk Beeson sold his interest in the Long Branch to Short. In March, Harris was nominated to run for mayor of Dodge City. Within a few days, on March19, a "law and order" group nominated Lawrence E. Deger to run against Harris. Deger defeated Harris by214 votes to 43 in the election of April3. All five of the city council candidates running with Deger were also elected. On April23, the Dodge City Council posted two ordinances that were immediately approved by Mayor Deger. Ordinance No.70 was "An Ordinance for the Suppression of Vice and Immorality Within the City of Dodge City." Ordinance No.71 was "An Ordinance to Define and Punish Vagrancy." Reports of that time recorded an event where Short beat a man with a pistol, which resulted with the man being bedridden and "in despair" for several days. On April 28, three prostitutes employed at the Long Branch were arrested by City Marshal Jack Bridges and policeman Louis C. Hartman. Soon afterward, Short and Hartman exchanged gunfire. Neither man was hurt. Short was quickly arrested and released on $2,000 bond. His preliminary examination was set for May2. Forced out of town On April30, Short was again arrested (along with five other gamblers) and placed in jail. The following day, Short and the five others were escorted to the train depot and given their choice of east- or west-bound trains. Short went east to Kansas City, Missouri, where he looked up Charles E. Bassett at the Marble Hall Saloon. Bassett and Short had a lot in common, and both had at different times owned an interest in the Long Branch Saloon. Short and Bassett, along with William F. Petillon, began conceiving a plan to get Short back to Dodge