The Sheriff's office in Pine City was at the front of the building which also housed the county jail. As our story opens, Duke Austin and his partner Shorty Fowler walk up the steps. Duke has a short temper and yells at Tonto who is outside the building too, to get out of their way. But Shorty placates him with the reasoning that if they make trouble, the Sheriff might change his mind about them talking to Billings, who is in the jail, and they're really keen to see what Billings has to say...