<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-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 5,831 <SECURITIES> 5,506 <RECEIVABLES> 31,763 <ALLOWANCES> 555 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 63,993 <PP&E> 53,007 <DEPRECIATION> 26,736 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 120,552 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 24,561 <BONDS> 1,371 <COMMON> 127 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 89,036 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 120,552 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 87,996 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 33,560 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 12,605 <LOSS-PROVISION> 110 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 77 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,894 <INCOME-TAX> 6,317 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 9,577 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,577 <EPS-PRIMARY> .74 <EPS-DILUTED> .74