| Show THE LAST COMBAT by JEAN 8 copyright by short stories co r of all n y xi diatom torta great at is 1 t ic i which tell tells tragic md ad u the two famous gladiators the eon son for I 1 founded a diw school called durante gu rante the father for bavil the laet last and greatest depre li ot the old school called la to tour nanto nante I 1 labrad x the elder after 15 ye uninterrupted terr apted and brilliant alc ft had retired from the arena hie his I 1 covered with jeweled medal medals and the little white scepter which bated the tile gladiator emeritus the day when lie had been put pitt proclaimed the tile king ot of glad latort son who succeeded Bucci eded bilin had e held hold first thanks to hie his tati careful training and thanks as the tho wonderful rapidity and ton for t hig ills famous r alit hand band L we wo and anti the fact that the few remaining t I 1 lowers of the old school were not 1 14 1 4 equals in struiK th however llo weer that may have been it w is generally conceded that tho ou out i r labrad had no peer ilia ills follow allow fo ra rs constantly increased lie ile had many imitators and flatterers and finall all 01 this adulation turned hie his head a he lie forgot what he lie owed to lila ills father and became tic puffed up that he said one day to a circle of admiring fric frands rids there la Is one thing I 1 much 1 egret that la Is my ray f fera her a age it he were not over 50 1 I would challenge him tor for then all the world would know that there la Is but one labrad this was repeated to the old man who only laughed and treated the whole matter with contempt irritated by thia this open ridicule la brax the son made several blighting alighting remarks about hi him alre sire and even dared to insinuate that in the light of present scientific methods the elder man would stand no chance whatever this so aroused the father a pride that he aid said frough I 1 will resign my scepter tor for a day and re enter tho the arena in 11 L 1 III LA fx A LI 1 1 I refuse to kill my son order tu to give tint thit s aticy lad of mine n lesson thil wit he will III not soon forget ahen his determination was as known to the roman pit 1 the grat eat excitement pre prevailed sailed and on the day appointed for the unique combat more than spectators eagerly aNal awaited ted them in tho the greit ter I 1 abrah the son first entered the areni ar ena clad in ili shining armor ills bearing hearing was proud an I 1 and he seemed to anticipate an in aisy vie lc korv but it was remena I 1 bared that his armor to weigh him down and the women mornen present recalled their disappointment bec uise ot of his clo closed qed alaor I or different If ferent gnp pr the imbres elon ton produced irod by the v r ance of the father ills co vas v ae of white one leg WIB wis adorned with a fringe of bronil metal white while his bits hanks flanks were protect 1 by a girdle of black leather willit silver scales his body naked to the waist showing his worM erful muscular development aia u 1 3 adorned only with ith hia his medals which hung from bia hl brawny neck his face was willa uncovered and on oil his head was a light 11 lit helmet surmounted by a scar sear let iet feather he lie seeni a veritable eri table mars liars but mars under tinder the guidance of nenus enus r tor or his graceful and anti supple body which age had not in the least im paired seemed made as much for love as war ur before the first round wae was over ev ey cry ery one knew that labrix the son had not the ghost of a chance for victory and though none could deny that hi his right handed blows blus the tho cleanness cles triness ol 01 his attacks and his rapidity deeres deer vs d great praise the play of hie his father was as so much more admirable that all eyes were upon him he ile had neve ibe been en greater be he surpassed all former glories it was a marvelous 1 spectacle I 1 and the immense multitude shouted themselves with ith enthusiasm the lather father surpassed the on not only in skill ml but in manly beauty and avid all the vigor of early youth nth seemed to return to him suddenly with a quick he wounded and ils armed hia his opponent and the youir labrad tell fel to th the round at this hundred 0 ot the spectators turned down their thumb it waa was the death halo your shouted la brax bra the mer elder 1 I 1 to 10 kill my 7 a rheda you yol will b be it abe fal jort ert orld the MM us in the me meantime antim P the shouting gew tumultuous and on every elde side were heard cries of ariki t strike they howled and idled like wild beasts and the voice of the great hini belf could be heard beard shout ing above the arod crofta strike strike the younger 1 abrah on his knees taunted his sire aaning if thou tit not thou art no gladiator but a poltroon he ile uncas his he helmet lillet loosened loo his armor bared his breast ind repeated if thou kest not thou art no gladiator thiu thu blest cried the father proudly et vt NN I 1 h a great sob which made his brea breast it heave and shook all the medals FU dearly won thou liest he said I 1 am the king of gladiators I 1 and brandishing his sword high in air then lowering the point he plunge plunged it into his son a s body crying 1 0 it so tha that a all m might g hear ear tor por t or the glory of flip gladiators then standing ayr the prostrate bod boil ho he addressed caesar 0 U emperor 1 I 1 have done thy bidding to liphilda the glory of the arena but davinis au liln my son I 1 can no longer livel and crang cr ing to the mes lo 10 jel of mr my ch I 1 he fell ell upon M bli sword word th ahm t pert perished shed the two brax |
