Strange Adventure with SQL Server

What does The followin query return IF orders table does NOT have a transfer_id column?

select transfer_id from orders

if you answered a runtime error - you were correct! read on...

What does the following query give you if transfers has transfer_id columns BUT orders table does NOT have any transfer_id column?

select * from transfers
where transfer_id in
(select transfer_id from orders)

if you answered a runtime error - you're WRONG! SQL Server simply returns ENTIRE Transfers table to you without ANY errors!

Any reasons behind this strange behavior? None comes to my mind!!!

but,

select * from transfers
where transfer_id in
(select orders.transfer_id from orders)

DOES return a runtime error and is a MUCH professional and better way of writting Sql Qruery!