<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-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                              17,180
<SECURITIES>                                         4,607
<RECEIVABLES>                                       36,285
<ALLOWANCES>                                           889
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    87,413
<PP&E>                                              75,488
<DEPRECIATION>                                      35,125
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     158,689
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               35,324
<BONDS>                                                999
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               139
<OTHER-SE>                                         115,395
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       158,689
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   113,166
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       41,071
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    17,890
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       220
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     364
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     16,073
<INCOME-TAX>                                         6,618
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  9,455
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         9,455
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .66<F1>
<FN>
<F1> The  Financial  data has been  restated  to  reflect  reclassifications  to
conform to the fiscal year 1999 presentation.
</FN>