<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-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                          16,757
<SECURITIES>                                    13,742
<RECEIVABLES>                                   38,930
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,099
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               101,018
<PP&E>                                          75,298
<DEPRECIATION>                                  38,220
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 173,161
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           41,265
<BONDS>                                            895
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           139
<OTHER-SE>                                     123,532
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   173,161
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               177,808
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   63,746
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                26,612
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   430
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 938
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 27,239
<INCOME-TAX>                                    11,385
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             15,854
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,854
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.11