Here's a short story:

CHAPTER XI—LOOKING FOR THE ROBBERS 

All in the offices listened with interest to Oliver Wadsworth’s words. 

“The jewels were probably what the rascals were after,” was Mr. Porter’s comment. “Evidently they did not touch any of the gold plate or silverware.” 

“That shows they must have known the jewels were here,” said Dunston Porter. 

“Couldn’t they find out about them from the workmen?” questioned Dave. 

“I suppose so—although it is a rule of the works for the men to keep silent regarding precious stones. No one but myself and the general manager are supposed to know just what we have on hand.” 

“We must get busy and see if we cannot follow the robbers!” cried David Porter. “No use in wasting time here now. Let us scatter in all directions. One can go to the railroad station and the others to the roads leading out of town. We may pick up some clew.” 

“The police, we’ll have to notify them!” said Roger. 

“Yes! yes! Call the police up on the telephone!” ejaculated Mr. Wadsworth, starting to his feet. 

Dave ran to the end of the office, where a telephone rested on a stand. The shock of the explosion had severed the wires. 

“It’s out of commission,” he said. “I’ll have to use the one in the shipping-room.” 

He left the offices, and made his way through two of the workrooms. Phil went with him and so did Roger. 

“This will be a terrible blow for Mr. Wadsworth,” was the comment of the shipowner’s son.  (End of story)

Provide your best guess for the following question. Give ONLY the guess, no other words or explanation.

For example:

Guess: <most likely guess, as short as possible; not a complete sentence, just the guess!>

Here are a few examples of questions and answers:

Question: People tried to steal what item?
Guess: jewels

Question: what did they not touch?
Guess: gold plate

Question: or?
Guess: silverware

Question: who might've told them about those items?
Guess: workmen

Question: Who wanted to chase the thieves down?
Guess: David Porter

Question: Where does he want people to go?
Guess: railroad

Question: where else?
Guess: roads

Question: who do they need to tell?
Guess: police

Question: how will they tell them?
Guess: telephone

Now answer the following question in the same format.

Question: why didn't it work?

severed the wires