Though appearing gutless, steals pounds (6)
I believe the answer is:
throbs
'pounds' is the definition.
(throb can mean to pound or beat)
'though appearing gutless steals' is the wordplay.
'appearing gutless' suggests removing the centre (the guts of the word are removed).
'steals' becomes 'robs' (robbing is a kind of stealing).
'though' with its middle removed is 'th'.
'th'+'robs'='THROBS'
(Other definitions for throbs that I've seen before include "Beats like the heart" , "Beats as a pulse" , "Pulsates, with pain perhaps" , "Pulsates like heart" , "Beats with persistent rhythm, as heart does" .)