<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-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                              OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                                           16,757
<SECURITIES>                                                     13,742
<RECEIVABLES>                                                    38,930
<ALLOWANCES>                                                      1,099
<INVENTORY>                                                           0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                101,018
<PP&E>                                                           75,298
<DEPRECIATION>                                                   38,220
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  173,161
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                            41,265
<BONDS>                                                             895
<COMMON>                                                            139
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                           0
<OTHER-SE>                                                      123,532
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                    173,161
<SALES>                                                               0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                177,808
<CGS>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                    63,017
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                 27,341
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                    430
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  938
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                  27,239
<INCOME-TAX>                                                     11,385
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                              15,854
<DISCONTINUED>                                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                       0
<CHANGES>                                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                                     15,854
<EPS-BASIC>                                                      1.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      1.11<F1>
<FN>
<F1>
The Financial data has been restated to reflect  reclassifications to conform to
the fiscal year 1999 presentation.
</FN>