Guest star Larry Gates is cast as Jacob Darien, the leader of a Quaker sect which has purchased land in California. While crossing the Ponderosa in a special wagon transporting the money for the land transaction, Jacob's daughter Regina (Patricia Donahue) persuades her father to have Adam and Hoss Cartwright act as escorts for the Quaker wagon train. Accompanying the Cartwright boys is Adam's new friend Sam Bond (Dennis Patrick)-who secretly schemes to steal the Quakers' funds at the first opportunity. Rounding out the supporting cast is Charles Maxwell as Shenandoah. First broadcast on October 8, 1960, "The Hopefuls" was written by E. Jack Neumann. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi