Joe thinks it's the work of the mill hands.

The wires are cut in all directions, and several of the men from Royal have been seen loitering around by Cox and Booth, the detectives." The girls overheard this assertion, and Patsy exclaimed: "I'm going to the office, to make sure our power hasn't been tampered with." The meeting broke up at once and the villagers trooped out to investigate.

Mr.Merrick and Arthur walked with the girls to the printing office, where they found Thursday Smith and Hetty working by the light of tallow candles.
"The power is off," said Smith quietly.
"Then the wire from Royal has also been cut," said Patsy.

"What shall we do?
His paper must come out to-morrow morning, in spite of anything and everything!" "Do you know who cut the wires ?" inquired Thursday.
"We think the mill hands must have done it." "Not with Skeelty's consent, I'll be bound," said Mr.Merrick.

"The manager is too fearful of a damage suit to play any tricks." "A cut wire may be repaired," suggested the pressman, and even as he spoke Joe Wegg came in, accompanied by the two detectives and the major.
"Cox has interviewed one of the workmen from Royal," said Joe, "and the fellow says there's a strike at the mill and everything is closed down.
Skeelty is barricaded in his office building, wild with fear, for the men have captured the company's store and helped themselves to the stock of liquors.