<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>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                       SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                          OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                            DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                                       11,497
<SECURITIES>                                                  5,110
<RECEIVABLES>                                                36,597
<ALLOWANCES>                                                    770
<INVENTORY>                                                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             80,067
<PP&E>                                                       71,136
<DEPRECIATION>                                               32,507
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                              146,864
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                        31,489
<BONDS>                                                       1,102
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                             0
<PREFERRED>                                                       0
<COMMON>                                                        135
<OTHER-SE>                                                  107,700
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                146,864
<SALES>                                                           0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                             53,511
<CGS>                                                             0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                20,008
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              8,604
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                100
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              131
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                               6,611
<INCOME-TAX>                                                  2,644
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                           3,967
<DISCONTINUED>                                                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                   0
<CHANGES>                                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                                  3,967
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                   .29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                   .28