What found money - even when the oil bill arrives - can't buy

Monroe - This is one of those stories, the cop said, that shows “there are still decent people among us.” A week ago Tuesday, Nov. 1 that is, Patrick Masterson was out on some errands. The retired New York City firefighter was in the ShopRite parking lot when he looked down and saw a Bank of New York envelope on the ground. He picked it up, opened it and found $753. Cash. No receipt. Having an extra $753 - in cash - in your pocket is hardly a casual thing. You can’t help but thinking about it. Like how you could spend, especially if you’ve just gotten your oil bill, as Masterson had. But Masterson said he also thought about how someone else wouldn’t be able to spend it. “Being that it was the first of the month, I figured it might be a retired person, someone cashing their Social Security Check,” Masterson said. He put the money away and went about his errands. And after shopping, Masterson walked into the lobby of the Monroe Police station and handed over the money. “I figured if no one claimed it after 30 days ... well,” Masterson recalled. Even without a receipt, police and the Bank of New York staff were able to figure out who lost the money. The owner, a retired fellow in his 70s, had already called the bank to see if he lost it there. The money was returned the next day and the owner called Masterson with his thanks. “I was right - it was a retired fellow,” Masterson said. And that was that. The cop who related this story provided its ending: “I don’t remember the whole expression or who said it but it had something to do with some people doing the right thing when everyone is looking and decent people doing the right thing when no one is looking - that is who Masterson is.”