<ARTICLE>                  5
<LEGEND>

THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS  AND INCOME  STATEMENTS  AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                        1,000


                                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                                      OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                        MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                                                   15,447
<SECURITIES>                                                             22,277
<RECEIVABLES>                                                            43,688
<ALLOWANCES>                                                              1,136
<INVENTORY>                                                                   0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        117,621
<PP&E>                                                                   97,269
<DEPRECIATION>                                                           55,574
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          220,374
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                    39,629
<BONDS>                                                                     163
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                    146
<OTHER-SE>                                                              174,508
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            220,374
<SALES>                                                                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        143,394
<CGS>                                                                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                            60,068
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                         43,820
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                           (100)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                           40
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          20,580
<INCOME-TAX>                                                              8,499
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      12,081
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             12,081
<EPS-BASIC>                                                                 .86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               .83