<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