unsigned short LoadShort(const unsigned short* addr, 
       unsigned offset              /* = 0     */,
       bool little_endian_byte_swap /* = false */) {
 
    if ( ! addr ) return 0;  // Return 0 if base address not set (i.e. invalid object)
    addr += offset;
    if ( ! little_endian_byte_swap ) return *addr;
    static unsigned short endian = 0x1234;
    if ( *(char*)(&endian) != 0x34 ) return *addr;
    const unsigned char* addr_c = reinterpret_cast<const unsigned char*>(addr);
    return (*addr_c << 8) | *(addr_c+1);
}