checks and money orders are kinda different... a money order doesn't have to be cashed for the sender to lose his money. you pay first, then you must act to get your money back if it is not cashed. you must keep your receipt/records.
a check, otoh, does not cause money to be taken out of your account unless it is redeemed for cash. no action is required if the check goes uncashed.
however, he wasn't out $225 until the money order was cashed, so in that sense, the two methods are more alike than different. AKICEBUM was right to refrain from cashing it, meaning he did NOT have both the boots and the cash.
get ur facts strate, huey