<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>                       9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                              OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                                           12,825
<SECURITIES>                                                      7,336
<RECEIVABLES>                                                    41,431
<ALLOWANCES>                                                      1,213
<INVENTORY>                                                           0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                101,475
<PP&E>                                                           84,009
<DEPRECIATION>                                                   47,550
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  200,259
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                            43,032
<BONDS>                                                             472
<COMMON>                                                            143
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                           0
<OTHER-SE>                                                      148,920
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                    200,259
<SALES>                                                               0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                204,092
<CGS>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                    77,208
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                 30,465
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                     54
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   98
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                  36,726
<INCOME-TAX>                                                     15,241
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                              21,485
<DISCONTINUED>                                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                       0
<CHANGES>                                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                                     21,485
<EPS-BASIC>                                                      1.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      1.49