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                                                                  Exhibit 10 (s)

One Tabas Lane

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

                         $ 3,025,000.00 August '9, 1995

      FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Hough-Loew Associates, Inc. a
Pennsylvania corporation (hereinafter referred to as ~Maker"), hereby promises
to pay to the order of USG ANNUITY - LIFE COMPANY, an Oklahoma corporation, or
any subsequent holder hereof (hereinafter referred to as "Payee")' at the office
of Payee, 604 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, or at such other place as
Payee may from time to time designate in writing, the principal sum of Three
Million Twenty-Five Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($3,025,000.00) and interest
thereon at eight and one-fourth percent ( 8 1/4~) per annum, both principal and
interest to be paid in lawful money of the United States of America, as follows:

      (i) Interest only from and including the date of disbursement of the loan
proceeds shall be paid on September 1, 1995; and

      (ii) Payments of principal and interest shall be made in sixty (60)
successive monthly installments commencing on October 1, 1995, and on the first
day of each and every calendar month thereafter up to and including September 1,
2000, the first fifty-nine installments to be in the amount of Twenty-Five
Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-four and 99/100 Dollars ($25,774.99) each, and
the final installment payable on September 1, 2000 (hereinafter referred to as
the "Maturity Date"), to be in the full amount of principal of this Promissory
Note (the ~Note"), interest and all other sums remaining unpaid hereunder and
under the Mortgage (as hereinafter defined). If a payment date is a non-business
day, the installment shall be due on the next business day.

      All payments on account of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note shall
be applied: (i) first, to further advances, if any, made by the holder hereof as
provided in the Loan Documents (as hereinafter defined); (ii) next, to any Late
Charge (as hereinafter defined); (iii) next, to interest at the Default Rate (as
hereinafter defined), if applicable; (iv) next, to the Prepayment Premium (as
hereinafter defined), if applicable; (v) next, at the rate of eight and one-
fourth percent (8 1/4%) per annum on the unpaid principal balance of this Note
unless interest at the Default Rate is applicable; and (vi) lastly, any
remainder to reduce the unpaid principal of this Note. Interest shall be
computed on the basis of a 30-day month and a 360-day year.
<PAGE>

      MAKER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS REFERRED TO ABOVE WILL
NOT AMORTIZE ALL OF THE PRINCIPAL SUM OF THE INDEBTEDNESS BY THE MATURITY DATE,
RESULTING IN A " BALLOON PAYMENT." ON SAID DATE OF THE ENTIRE UNPAID PRINCIPAL
BALANCE OF THIS NOTE AND ACCRUED UNPAID INTEREST.

      In the event any installment of principal and/or interest due hereunder,
and/or any escrow fund payment for real estate taxes, assessments, other similar
charges or insurance premiums due under the Mortgage (as hereinafter defined)
shall become overdue for a period in excess of five (5) days, Maker shall pay to
the holder hereof a late charge (hereinafter referred to as a "Late Charge") of
five ($.05) cents for each dollar so overdue in order to defray part of the cost
of collection.

      In no event shall the amount of interest due or payable hereunder exceed
the maximum rate of interest allowed by applicable law, and in the event any
such payment is inadvertently paid by the Maker or inadvertently received by the
Payee, then such excess sum shall be credited as a payment of principal, unless
the Maker shall notify the Payee, in writing, that the Maker elects to have such
excess sum returned to it forthwith. It is the express intent hereof that the
Maker not pay and the Payee not receive, directly or indirectly in any manner
whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be legally paid by the Maker
under applicable law.

      Payment of this Note is secured by an Open-End Mortgage, Security
Agreement, Financing Statement and Fixture Filing (hereinbefore and hereinafter
referred to as the UMortgage") dated of even date herewith from Maker, as
Mortgagor, to Payee, as Mortgagee, encumbering certain real estate and other
property interests situated in the County of Chester, Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and more particularly described in the Mortgage (hereinafter
referred to as the UPremises"). This Note, the Mortgage, and all other
instruments now or hereafter evidencing or securing the loan evidenced hereby
are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the ULoan Documents". The
Mortgage contains a "Due on Sale and Further Encumbrance" clause which, together
with all other terms of the Mortgage, are incorporated herein by this reference.

      Payment of this Note is further secured by the HOther Security Documents"
as defined in the Cross-Collateralization Rider, which is attached to the
Mortgage as Exhibit B.

      Except as expressly permitted by this paragraph, no prepayments shall be
made of the indebtedness evidenced by


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this Note. Maker reserves the privilege to prepay, in full but not in part, the
principal indebtedness evidenced hereby on any installment payment date, upon
ninety (90) days prior written notice to the holder hereof and upon payment of a
premium (hereinafter referred to as the prepayment Premium.) equal to the
percentage of the principal amount so prepaid in accordance with the following
table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

        If Prepayment Made                       Prepayment Premium
        -----------------------------------------------------------
        During Loan Year:                               Percentage:
        -----------------------------------------------------------
        <S>                                       <C>
        1                                                        5%
        2                                                        4%
        3                                                        3%
        4                                                        2%
        5                                                        1%
</TABLE>

For purposes of calculation of the Prepayment Premium only, a Loan Year during
the term hereof shall be a period of twelve consecutive months, the first of
which shall commence on the first day of the month following the date hereof and
each succeeding Loan Year shall commence on the anniversary of such date.

      In the event Payee applies any insurance proceeds or condemnation proceeds
to the reduction of the principal indebtedness under this Note in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the Mortgage, and if, at such time, no Event of
Default (as hereinafter defined) exists hereunder or under the Mortgage at such
time, then no Prepayment Premium shall be due or payable as a result of such
application and the monthly installments due and payable hereunder shall be
adjusted to reflect the reduced principal balance.

      In addition to the above, no Prepayment Premium shall be due or payable if
Maker elects to prepay, in full but not in part, the principal indebtedness
evidenced hereby at any time within ninety (90) days prior to the Maturity Date
upon at least forty-five (45) days prior written notice to the holder hereof.

      If the maturity of the indebtedness evidenced hereby is accelerated by
Payee as a consequence of the occurrence of an Event of Default, or in the event
the right to foreclose the Mortgage shall otherwise accrue to Payee, the Maker
agrees that an amount equal to the Prepayment Premium shall be added to the
balance of unpaid principal and interest then outstanding, and that the
indebtedness evidenced hereby shall not be discharged except: (i) by payment of
such Prepayment Premium, together with the balance of principal and interest and
all other sums then outstanding (if the Maker tenders payment of the
indebtedness evidenced hereby prior to judicial confirmation of foreclosure
sale); or (ii) by

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inclusion of such Prepayment Premium as a part of the
indebtedness evidenced hereby in any such judicial order or judgment of
foreclosure.

      It is hereby expressly agreed by Maker that time is of the essence hereof
and that each of the following occurrences shall constitute a default ("Event of
Default") under this Note:

            (i)   The failure of the Maker to:

                  (a) make any payment of any installment of principal or
                  interest under this Note within five (5) days after the same
                  shall fall due, or

                  (b) comply with any of the other terms of this Note within
                  thirty (30) days after written notice of such failure has been
                  given by Payee to Maker or within such longer period of time
                  as may be reasonably necessary to cure such non-compliance if
                  Maker is diligently pursuing such cure and the failure is
                  susceptible of cure within a reasonable time.

            (ii)  The failure of Maker to make payment of any amount due the
                  holder hereof under any Loan Documents other than this Note,
                  on any date on which the same shall fall due (including any
                  applicable grace period).

            (iii) The occurrence of any Event of Default under any of the Loan
                  Documents other than this Note.

            (iv)  The occurrence of an Event of Default under any of the "Other
                  Notes" or the "Other Security Documents" as such terms are
                  defined in the CrossCollateralization Rider, attached to the
                  Mortgage as Exhibit B.

      Payee shall have the following rights, privileges, powers, options and
remedies whenever any Event of Default shall occur under this Note:

            (i)   The right to foreclose the Mortgage shall accrue to Payee.

            (ii)  The entire unpaid principal balance of, and any unpaid
                  interest then accrued on, this Note together with the
                  Prepayment Premium, shall, at the option of Payee and without
                  demand or notice of any kind to the Maker or any other person,
                  immediately become due and payable.

            (iii) From and after the date of the occurrence of any Event of
                  Default and continuing until such Event


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                  of Default is fully cured or until this Note is paid in full,
                  the Maker promises to pay interest on the principal balance of
                  this Note then outstanding at the rate (hereinbefore and
                  hereinafter referred to as the "Default Rate") of twelve and
                  one-fourth percent (12 1/4%) per annum. The Maker agrees that
                  such additional interest which has accrued shall be paid at
                  the time of and as a condition precedent to the curing of such
                  Event of Default. During the existence of any such Event of
                  Default Payee may apply payments received on any amounts due
                  hereunder or under the terms of any of the Loan Documents as
                  Payee shall determine; and if Payee elects (notice of election
                  being expressly waived by the Maker), the principal remaining
                  unpaid with accrued interest shall at once become due and
                  payable, as provided above.

            (iv)  Payee shall have, and may exercise any and all rights, powers,
                  privileges, options and remedies available at law or in equity
                  and as provided in any of the Loan Documents.

      Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under any of the Loan
Documents, the Maker expressly agrees to pay all costs of collection and
enforcement of every kind, including without limitation, all reasonable
attorneys' fees, court costs, costs of title evidence and insurance, inspection
and appraisal costs and expenses of every kind incurred by Payee in connection
with the protection or realization of any or all of the security for this Note,
whether or not any lawsuit is filed with respect thereto. An Event of Default
under this Note shall constitute a default under each and all of the other Loan
Documents.

      The rights, powers, privileges, options and remedies of Payee, as provided
in this Note, in any of the Loan Documents, or otherwise available at law or
equity shall be cumulative and concurrent, and may be pursued singly,
successively or together at the sole discretion of Payee, and may be exercised
as often as occasion therefor shall occur. No delay or discontinuance in the
exercise of any right, power, privilege, option or remedy hereunder shall be
deemed a waiver of such right, power, privilege, option or remedy, nor shall the
exercise of any right, power, privilege, option or remedy be deemed an election
of remedies or a waiver of any other right, power, privilege, option or remedy.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the failure of the Payee after
the occurrence of any Event of Default to exercise Payee's right to declare the
indebtedness remaining unmatured hereunder to be immediately due and payable
shall not constitute a waiver of


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<PAGE>

such right in connection with any future Event of Default. Acceleration of
maturity, once claimed hereunder by Payee, may, at Payee's option, be rescinded
by written acknowledgment to that effect, but the tender and acceptance of
partial payment or partial performance alone shall not, by itself, in any way
affect or rescind such acceleration.

      Maker (and each guarantor hereof, if any) jointly and severally waives
presentment for payment, demand, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor,
protest of any dishonor, notice of protest and protest of this Note, and all
other notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default
or enforcement of the payment of this Note, except as otherwise provided herein,
and agrees that the liability of each of them hereunder shall be joint, several
and unconditional without regard to the liability of any other party and shall
not be in any manner affected by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal,
waiver or modification granted or consented to by Payee; and Maker (and each
guarantor hereof, if any) consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals,
waivers or modifications that may be granted by Payee with respect to the
payment or other provisions of this Note, and to the release of any collateral
given to secure the payment hereof, or any part thereof, with or without
substitution, and agrees that additional makers or guarantors may become parties
hereto without notice to any of them or affecting any of their liability
hereunder.

      Payee shall not by any acts of omission or commission be deemed to waive
any rights or remedies hereunder unless such waiver is in writing and signed by
Payee, and then only to the extent specifically set forth therein; a waiver of
one event shall not be construed as continuing or as a bar to or waiver of such
right or remedy on a subsequent event.

      All notices, demands and requests given hereunder by the Maker or Payee,
shall be in writing and shall be delivered either by: (i) hand delivery to the
address for notices; (ii) delivery by overnight courier service to the address
for notices; (iii) by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the
address for notices by United States mail, postage prepaid.

      All notices shall be deemed effective upon the earlier to occur of: (x)
the hand delivery of such notice to the address for notices; (y) one business
day after the deposit of such notice with an overnight courier service by the
time deadline for next day delivery addressed to the address for notices; or (z)
three business days after depositing the notice in the United States mail as set
forth in (iii) above.

      All notices shall be addressed to the following addresses:


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<PAGE>

              Maker:      Hough-Loew Associates, Inc.
                          750 Springdale Drive
                          Exton, PA 19341
                          Attn: Jack R. Loew

     With a copy to:      Stephen S. Aichele, Esq.
                          Saul, Ewing, Remick & Saul
                          3800 Centre Square West
                          Philadelphia, PA 19102

              Payee:      USG Annuity & Life Company
                          604 Locust Street
                          Des Moines, Iowa 50309
                          Attn: Equitable Investment Services,
                          Inc.
                          Managing Director/Real Estate

     With a copy to:      Nyemaster, Goode, McLaughlin, Voigts,
                          West, Hansell & O'Brien, P.C.
                          1900 Hub Tower
                          699 Walnut Street
                          Des Moines, Iowa 50309

or to such other person or at such other place as any party hereto may by notice
designate as a place for service of notice.

      MATER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AUTHORIZES AND EMPOWERS ANY ATTORNEY OR THE
PROTHONOTARY OR STORK OF ANY COURT IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, OR
ELSEWHERE, TO APPEAR FOR THE UNDERSIGNED AT ANY TIME AFTER AN EVENT OF DEFAULT
HEREUNDER IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT AGAINST MAKER, ON THIS NOTE AT THE SUIT OF
PAYEE, WITH OR WITHOUT DECLARATION FILED, AS OF ANY TERM, AND ~n~REIN TO CONFESS
AND ENTER JUDGEMENT AGAINST THE UNDERSIGNED FOR THE ENTIRE UNPAID PRINCIPAL OF
THIS NOTE AND ALL OTHER SUMS PAID BY PAYEE TO OR ON BERATED OF THE UNDERSIGNED
PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE OR THE MORTGAGE, AND ALL INTEREST THEREON,
TOGETHER WITH COSTS OF SUIT, ATTORNEY'S FEES OF FIVE PERCENT (5%) FOR
COLLECTION; AND FOR SO DOING THIS NOTE OR A COPY HEREOF VERIFIED BY AFFIDAVIT
(WHICH SHALL INCLUDE REFERENCE TO AN EVENT OF DEFAULT WHICH HAS OCCURRED AND NOT
BEEN CURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE) SHALL BE A SUFFICIENT
WARRANT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH TO THE-CONTRARY, NO SUCH
ACTION TO CONFESS AND ENTER JUDGMENT AGAINST MAKER WILL BE INITIATED BY PAYEE
UNTIL PAYEE HAS GIVEN MAKER AT LEAST FIVE (5) DAYS PRIOR NOTICE OF PAYEE'S
INTENTIONS. THE AUTHORITY GRANTED HEREIN TO CONFESS JUDGMENT SHALL NOT BE
EXHAUSTED UNTIL PAYMENT IN FULL OF ALL THE AMOUNTS DUE HEREUNDER.

      This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.


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<PAGE>


      Except as specifically otherwise set forth in subparagraphs (i) through
(viii) below and in that certain Environmental Indemnification Agreement dated
on or about this same date from Maker to Payee, no personal liability under this
Note shall be asserted or enforceable against the Maker personally or any person
interested beneficially or otherwise in the Premises, or in respect of the
making, issuance or transfer hereof, all such liability being expressly waived
by Payee (provided, the foregoing shall not affect the liability of any
guarantor of any obligations arising under a separate guaranty hereof); and
Payee accepts this Note upon the express condition that in case of the
occurrence of an Event of Default, the remedies of the Payee in its sole
discretion shall be any or all of:

      (a)   foreclosure of the Mortgage in accordance with the terms and
            provisions set forth in the Mortgage;

      (b)   action against any other security at any time given to secure the
            payment hereof; and

      (c)   action to enforce the personal liability of Maker pursuant to
            subparagraphs (i) through (viii) below and pursuant to the
            Environmental Indemnification Agreement.

      MAKER WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER ARISING
OUT OF THIS NOTE.

      Notwithstanding anything in this Note to the contrary, there shall at no
time be any limitation on Maker's liability for the payment to Payee of:

      (i)   condemnation proceeds or insurance proceeds which Maker has received
            and to which the Payee is entitled pursuant to the terms of this
            Note or any of the Loan Documents,

      (ii)  any security deposits, prepaid rent or lease termination fees, and
            any rentals or income which are received by Maker after the
            occurrence of an Event of Default,

      (iii) all loss, damage, costs, expense and liability ~ ~ (including
            without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs) directly
            or indirectly incurred by Payee (and its directors, officers,
            employees and agents) arising out of or attributable to the
            installation, use, generation, manufacture, production, storage,
            release, threatened release, discharge, disposal or presence of a
            Hazardous Substance (as defined in the Mortgage), or from the
            presence of any underground storage tanks, in, on, under or about
            the Premises, including without


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            limitation, (a) all foreseeable consequential damages, (b) the cost
            of any required or necessary repair, cleanup or detoxification of
            the Premises and (c) the preparation and implementation of any
            closure, remedial or other required plans, or damages arising from
            the presence of any toxic or hazardous waste or substances, or
            underground storage tanks, or any other pollutants in or on the
            Premises,

      (iv)  delinquent taxes, assessments and other similar charges levied
            against the Premises,

      (v)   all loss, damages and expenses incurred by Payee and arising from
            any misrepresentation or breach of warranty of Maker, or any
            certification, financial statement or other information furnished by
            or on behalf of Maker to Payee to induce Payee to loan the money
            evidenced by the Note which proves to have been inaccurate or false
            in any respect when made, or any willful or wanton act or omission
            of Maker,

      (vi)  all loss or expenses incurred by Payee under the Loan Documents
            resulting from Maker declaring bankruptcy or seeking protection
            under any provision of any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency
            law, or in the event the Premises shall be subject to the
            administration or control of any bankruptcy court, trustee, referee,
            or other official,

      (vii) any loss, including any Prepayment Premium, cost, or expense
            resulting from acceleration of the maturity of the Note due to the
            application of the due on sale or further encumbrance U provisions
            contained in the Mortgage, or

      (viii) any transfer or other taxes, costs and reasonable attorneys fees
            incurred by Payee in connection with the enforcement of the Loan
            Documents.

With the exception of those items of liability specifically set forth in items
(i) through (viii) above, the lien of any judgment against Maker in any
proceeding instituted on, under or in connection with this Note or the Mortgage,
or both, shall not extend to any property now or hereafter owned by Maker other
than the interest of the Maker in the Premises and the other security for the
payment of this Note.

      IMPORTANT: READ BEFORE SIGNING. THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT SHOULD BE READ
CAREFULLY BECAUSE ONLY THOSE TERMS IN WRITING ARE ENFORCEABLE. NO OTHER TERMS OR
ORAL PROMISES NOT CONTAINED IN THIS WRITTEN CONTRACT MAY BE LEGALLY ENFORCED.
YOU MAY CHANGE THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ONLY BY ANOTHER WRITTEN AGREEMENT.


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      Maker acknowledges receipt of a copy of this instrument at the time it was
signed.

                               HOUGH-LOEW A,SSOCIATES, INC.

                                     By:/s/ Jack R. Loew
                                     August 4, 1995
                                     Names.
                                     Title:


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