Why does the first code snippet work while the second one generates an error?

Local loShell As Object

m.loShell = Createobject( [WScript.Shell] )

If Vartype( m.loShell ) == [O]

*-- Why does this code snippet work while the one below generates an error
If File( [C:\$DEV\AIMS\LIB\SSREPORT.PDF] )

m.loShell.Run( [C:\$DEV\AIMS\LIB\SSREPORT.PDF], 3, .T. )

EndIf

If file( [C:\PROGRAM FILES\AIMS\V20\SSREPORT.PDF] )

m.loShell.Run( [C:\PROGRAM FILES\AIMS\V20\SSREPORT.PDF], 3, .T. )
* OLE error code 0x80070002: The system cannot find the file specified.

EndIf

Endif