<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-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 8,720 <SECURITIES> 5,006 <RECEIVABLES> 31,129 <ALLOWANCES> 565 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 69,654 <PP&E> 60,562 <DEPRECIATION> 29,204 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 130,610 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 27,978 <BONDS> 1,306 <COMMON> 127 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 93,293 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 130,610 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 137,031 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 52,047 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 20,509 <LOSS-PROVISION> 120 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 102 <INCOME-PRETAX> 23,092 <INCOME-TAX> 9,360 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 13,732 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 13,732 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.05 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.03