<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>                                   19,865
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 8,747
<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>                                     0.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.28<F1>
<FN>
<F1>The financial data has been restated to reflect reclassifications to conform
to the fiscal year 1999 presentation.
</FN>