code: public short readShort(short defaultValue, String attribute)
      {
          return Short.parseShort(getValue(String.valueOf(defaultValue), attribute));
      }
docs: Read a short.
  
  @param defaultValue The value returned if attribute not found.
  @param attribute The integer name (must not be <code>null</code>).
  @return The short value.
  @throws LionEngineException If invalid argument.