<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          28,086
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  148,367
<ALLOWANCES>                                       960
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                34,343
<PP&E>                                          31,228
<DEPRECIATION>                                  16,073
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 207,919
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           16,690
<BONDS>                                        119,946
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            55
<OTHER-SE>                                      70,402
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   207,919
<SALES>                                          1,232
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                15,077
<CGS>                                              574
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    9,354
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 4,592
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   318
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,870
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,726
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,775
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,951
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,951
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .81