[wideawake]

It's entirely possible that the 74 year old's stick was a walking stick, that Ames is lying about it being used as a weapon and that he ambushed Brooks.

It would seem to be in keeping with his general character.

[digger48]

We do have only one side of the story, don't we?

[Hard Way]

I have a small plot (80 acres) with a few head of cattle. And when one occasionally goes on walkabout, it's good to have a decent-lenth walking stick to "encourage" them to head back home. A whack on the butt is much easier on them than a prod (which could send them any direction). Heck, my cows usually move with just a touch of the stick!

When I first read this, I knew what the stick was for.