by Hal Erickson
synopsis
George Kennedy guest-stars as Waldo Watson, a born loser who has decided to end it all. Feeling pity for Waldo, Hoss Cartwright hires him as a Ponderosa ranch hand. Alas, not only is Waldo a clumsy and inept worker, but he also puts the Cartwrights' lives in danger, courtesy of a gang of trigger-happy Eastern gamblers who want to collect a long-standing debt from the hapless Waldo. Others in the cast include Sandra Warner as Nancy Collings and Richard Devon as Weaver. Written by Rod Peterson, "The Scapegoat" originally aired October 25, 1964.