<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-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                                                 OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                                                   MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                                                                              17,180
<SECURITIES>                                                                                         4,607
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                                       36,285
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                                           889
<INVENTORY>                                                                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                                    87,413
<PP&E>                                                                                              75,488
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                                      35,125
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                                     158,689
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                                               35,324
<BONDS>                                                                                                999
<COMMON>                                                                                               139
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                                                              0
<OTHER-SE>                                                                                         115,395
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                                       158,689
<SALES>                                                                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                                   113,166
<CGS>                                                                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                                       41,632
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                                    17,329
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                                       220
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                                     364
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                                     16,073
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                                         6,618
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                                  9,455
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                                         9,455
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                                          .70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                                          .66