<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