There ought to be eight hundred or more old cows ready for the market.

With a fifty percent loss, the proceeds from the ranches purchased would show up considerably less than anticipated from an examination of the books. Sixteen hundred marketable cattle, which would more than pay the original investment, were cut down to eight hundred by actual roundup count. It was better business tactics not to sell the actual cattle, but to sell the ranches and the numbers shown on the books. This could not be done to old timers at face value, and the new crowd needed some one of local standing to tie to, in their transactions. That is what brought into existence the vast spreading activities of Creighton, Paxton and Swan.

In 1886 Braziel had charge of one of the big herds, about seven thousand head, bound for the Judith Basin in Montana. In the outfit were a number of those whose names were familiar in western Nebraska ; among which were George W. Sunderling, and "Gunny Sack" Pete, and there was a long lean Mexican in the bunch. George W. had one crowning virtue that gave him the respect of all his associates, although some of the boy> treated him lightly. He was loyal and indulgent to his mothers and sisters. The mother was one who aspired for a more aristocratic life than their humble circumstances would permit, and had a considerable degree of intellectual attainment, and Grace and Bessie shared in the ambition. George W. would impoverish himself to secure for them all the comfort possible on the old place on Pumpkin creek.