<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-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                              11,519
<SECURITIES>                                        25,915
<RECEIVABLES>                                       40,699
<ALLOWANCES>                                         1,204
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   113,118
<PP&E>                                              82,747
<DEPRECIATION>                                      45,776
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     203,081
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               45,521
<BONDS>                                                579
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               142
<OTHER-SE>                                         149,025
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       203,081
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   136,851
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       52,012
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    20,317
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       148
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      80
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     25,020
<INCOME-TAX>                                        10,508
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 14,512
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        14,512
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.00