<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997 OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996 NOV-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997 APR-30-1998 <CASH> 4,969 7,694 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 13,870 14,194 <ALLOWANCES> 1,127 1,466 <INVENTORY> 78 232 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 19,130 21,736 <PP&E> 66,346 86,583 <DEPRECIATION> 17,124 21,972 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 70,843 88,496 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 27,853 37,221 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 18 18 <OTHER-SE> 23,504 29,925 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 70,843 88,496 <SALES> 35,532 40,538 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 35,532 40,538 <CGS> 17,950 19,065 <TOTAL-COSTS> 17,950 19,065 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 8,326 9,450 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 741 1,695 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,319 10,358 <INCOME-TAX> 3,579 3,937 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,740 6,421 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,740 6,421 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.33 0.37 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.33 0.36