<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000760386 <NAME> WELLESLEY LEASE INCOME LIMITED PARTNERSHIP III-D FDS 9/30/97 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 344,441 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 48,168 <ALLOWANCES> 5,097 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 407,399 <PP&E> 6,033,932 <DEPRECIATION> 3,961,094 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,480,237 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 115,685 <BONDS> 898,666 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 8,988,039 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> (7,522,153) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,480,237 <SALES> 1,281,352 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,330,963 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 96,800 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 915,714 <LOSS-PROVISION> (50,878) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 51,635 <INCOME-PRETAX> 317,962 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 317,962 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 317,962 <EPS-PRIMARY> 14.82 <EPS-DILUTED> 0