<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
March 31, 1998 and 1997 financial statements and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             MAR-31-1998             MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                      26,832,000              26,832,000               5,759,000               5,759,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                              120,926,000             120,926,000              93,019,000              93,019,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                 4,553,000               4,553,000               1,867,000               1,867,000
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           227,623,000             227,623,000             108,550,000             108,550,000
<PP&E>                                      71,829,000              71,829,000              61,584,000              61,584,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              28,992,000              28,992,000              24,865,000              24,865,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             303,493,000             303,493,000             174,340,000             174,340,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       57,932,000              57,932,000              36,916,000              36,916,000
<BONDS>                                     77,510,000              77,510,000              28,045,000              28,045,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                       356,000                 356,000                 308,000                 308,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 166,560,000             166,560,000             106,338,000             106,338,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               303,493,000             303,493,000             174,340,000             174,340,000
<SALES>                                     94,789,000             180,190,000              67,267,000             127,672,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            96,084,000             183,365,000              67,385,000             127,917,000
<CGS>                                       60,616,000             114,305,000              42,480,000              80,592,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               82,707,000             158,242,000              59,102,000             113,048,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,055,000               1,875,000                 540,000               1,123,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             12,322,000              23,248,000               7,743,000              13,746,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 5,021,000               9,502,000               3,175,000               5,636,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          7,301,000              13,746,000               4,568,000               8,110,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 7,301,000              13,746,000               4,568,000               8,110,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.22                    0.41                    0.16                    0.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.20                    0.38                    0.14                    0.26
        

</TABLE>