<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-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          17,687
<SECURITIES>                                    22,305
<RECEIVABLES>                                   36,131
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,103
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               107,061
<PP&E>                                          80,234
<DEPRECIATION>                                  42,376
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 194,091
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           43,110
<BONDS>                                            685
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           141
<OTHER-SE>                                     142,740
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   194,091
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                67,977
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   25,071
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                10,279
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    47
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  28
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 12,151
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,103
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              7,048
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,048
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.49