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i think it can mean scram or scarper in the US.
Aristo?

I checked it in Chambers earlier, but found nothing under "powder"

I had #4 commonplace book but unfortunately I had paper for #2. That was the best I could do I'm afraid.
Thank you Jolan.

...posts crossed JG.
well done Ginge - coldblood is mentally devious. well done jolan.

I should have checked for slang. Just found it is 1930's US or Canadian slang for leave quickly

Great clues Jolan, my word I had a bad week!!

Top man Ginge

Hi jazzy, Trevor is spot on. If memory serves Chandler uses it in his short stories.

Hi folks

Well done ginge 5/5 and good efforts everyone. Methinks it may have been a bit more difficult today ???

When I was being educated in the local cinema (picture house to me), "take a powder!" was what the gangsters were all saying. meaning "get out of here (quickly)!" or "out of my sight!

The exclamation mark was essential in the clue.

Here is my working (come back AB).

1. TAKE A POWDER! = leave quickly! (C.O.D) = out of my sight!

2. (double) TAPER

3. anagram (cast) of “pictured as” = CUSTARD PIE

4. customary = common; reserve = book; site = place; common(place)book = COMMONPLACE BOOK = a book in which ideas, notes, memoranda, etc are jotted down (Chambers def) = where notable bits and pieces may be stored (my adaptation of def). notable = worthy of being noted (Chambers def)

5. col = defile (Chambers def); d = and finally; blood = initiate into blood sports or to war (Chambers dict); COLDBLOOD = a horse belonging to the heavy draught breeds (Chambers def)

Again, thank you all for being here. Wonder where the rest of the gang are? Perhaps they "took a powder" :-))

PS I sure hope Ari is OK (weathering the dreadful snow). I'll peek back in much later. J