<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>                           9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                  JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                                              7,156
<SECURITIES>                                                        6,000
<RECEIVABLES>                                                      23,427
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          334
<INVENTORY>                                                             0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                   53,143
<PP&E>                                                             39,830
<DEPRECIATION>                                                     18,019
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    100,305
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                              26,027
<BONDS>                                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                              126
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                                         69,019
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                      100,305
<SALES>                                                           105,023
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                  105,023
<CGS>                                                                   0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                      84,903
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    111
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                    20,518
<INCOME-TAX>                                                        8,322
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                12,196
<DISCONTINUED>                                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                         0
<CHANGES>                                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                                       12,196
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                        0.96
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        0.95