Green’s Dictionary of Slang

flicker n.2

also flickers
[flicker v.2 (2)]

(US tramp) a fainting fit, esp. if faked.

[US]P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 302: Flicker—a faint; as a verb, to faint or pretend to faint.
[UK]F. Jennings Tramping with Tramps 212: Flickers – fainting.
[US]Ragen & Finston World’s Toughest Prison 799: flicker – A faint or pretended faint.